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French athlete Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad has gained track and field infamy in the lead-up to the London Olympics.



The 27-year-old had just won gold in the European Championship's 3000 metre steeplechase in Helsinki on Sunday when audience cheers quickly subsided into shock over his subsequent actions.



Rather than appearing happy about his 8.33.23-minute victory, the Algerian-born athlete walked over to the championship's mascot “Appy”, which was being worn by a 14-year-old girl, and smacked a gift bag out of her hands and shoved her with both hands.





Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad first knocks the gift from her hands, then pushes her.



The girl was believed to have been slightly winded by the unexpected attack but otherwise unharmed. Yet championship organisers were livid, according to Karjalainen news.



Championship director Mika Muukka told the news agency that “hopefully, the EAA (European Athletics Association) would deal with the case”.



It was not the first time that Mekhissi-Benabbad had picked on a mascot. After winning the same race at the 2010 championships in Barcelona, he asked a mascot to kneel in front of him before he pushed it to the ground, according to Le 10 Sport.



In 2011, he was also suspended for 10 months after getting into a fight with fellow French runner, Mehdi Baala, at the finish line of the 1500m race during the Monaco Diamond League games.



In footage of the incident it appeared that Baala struck first with what appeared to be a headbutt but Mekhissi-Benabbad quickly retaliated with a flurry of slaps and near-miss punches.



The pair were involved in a brief push-and-shove struggle before stunned officials managed to separate them.



Championship organisers have now registered the latest incident and the Frenchman could face some form of reprimand.



Ms Muukka said winners were usually greeted by flower girls, but she did not specify whether that caused Mekhissi-Benabbad to lash out.



“Such behaviour is completely unacceptable,” she said.



Three weeks ago at the International Diamond Meet, Jamaican runner Usain Bolt accidentally charged into a flower girl after she stepped out to greet him mid-sprint.



Bolt managed to hold on to the girl to stop her from falling and partially dragged her along the track until he was able to slow down and accept her gift.



The red-faced pair were seen briefly hugging and laughing about the incident directly afterwards.



Mekhissi-Benabbad won silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics for the 3000m steeplechase event."