LogFAQs > #979152327

Looking into it further, the rule he broke is actually flimsy.

ARTICLE 1. a. Any competitor who interferes with another swimmer during a race shall be disqualified from that race, subject to the discretion of the referee.

The reason there's uproar about it is the "Subject to discretion" part. He, objectively, did not interfere with another swimmer. It doesn't say anything about crossing lanes, it specifically says "interfere with another swimmer." The referee chose to disqualify him based on their "discretion" of an extremely flimsy rule.

It remains unclear exactly how officials feel that Lloyd broke the rules. The folks at Swim Swam, a popular swimming blog, pulled up the ACC rules on the decision and its a little unclear how Lloyd actually violated the rules.
ARTICLE 1. a. Any competitor who interferes with another swimmer during a race shall be disqualified from that race, subject to the discretion of the referee.
The issue is that Lloyd didnt interfere with another swimmer, because Dant had already finished as well. He also didnt jump into the lane of another team, as the two are both teammates on the NC State swim team. There is nothing in the rules that addresses moving into the lane of an opponent who has finished competing, but while other swimmers were completing the race.

Basically, the ruling is highly suspect.