by Larry EderThe Russian Championships are in full swing this week. The IAAF will be testing in Moscow more than ever and Sebastian Coe is noting that not enough of the banned athlete’s inner circle see any repercussions.
Tarabin and Lysenko World leads
MOSCOW (RUS, Jul 24): Two world leading marks in throws highlighted the third day of Russian Championships in Luzhniki Stadium. Universiade winner Dmitriy Tarabin achieved in last throw of javelin competition 88.84, also his personal best. It is also the best throw in the world since August 14, 2011. He was leading in the competition from first round (84.49). Nobody else went over 80 meters. Later in women hammer olympic and world winner Tatyana Lysenko started with world leading 77.27 and improved in second round to another global mark 78.15. Then she passed the remaining throws. Second Anna Bulgakova 76.17 PB, third Oksana Kondratyeva 74.52 and fourth to qualify Gulfiya Khanafeyeva 70.91. Olympic winner Natalya Antyukh after heats did not run the final of 400 m hurdles which was won by Irina Davydova 55.49 as the second Anastasiya Ott (55.78) was disqualified. Another expected final was the 400 m where the fastest Russian Antonina Krivoshapka was not running. Kseniya Zadorina won in life-time best 50.55 ahead of Tatyana Firova 50.71 and Kseniya Ryzhova 50.82 with Anastasiya Kapachinskaya fourth 50.94. Svetlana Shkolina confirmed her high jump position with 197 win on count-back over Tatyana Gordeyeva 197, third surprisingly returning from maternity break 2004 Olympic winner Yelena Slesarenko 192. She hopes to be selected with a B-standard as Anna Chicherova has the IAAF Wild Card. Yulia Kondakova posted 12.81 (-0.1) at 100 m hurdles over Tatyana Degtyareva 12.98 and Yekaterina Galitskaya 12.98. In the 5000 m Yelena Nagovitsina achieved Moscow B-standard 15:23.17. She was followed by Mariya Konovalova 15:27.16 and Yekaterina Ishova 15:33.64. In other men finals Sergey Litvinov won the hammer 77.77 ahead of Aleksey Korolyov 74.77 and Aleksey Zagorniy 74.24. Surprise at 400 m hurdles as Denis Kudryavtsev clocked 49.40 PB and A-standard ahead of Vladimir Antmanis 49.47 PB and Ivan Shabluyev 49.65 PB. Maksim Dyldin achieved 45.55 to win the 400 m with Sergey Petukhov second 45.97 PB. Sergey Shubenkov already pre-selected still competed and won the 110 m hurdles in 13.19 (-0.1, 13.22 +1.2 in semis) over Konstantin Shabanov 13.50. Sergey Kucheryanu needed two valid jumps at 540 and 560 to win the pole vault, second on count-back with 560 Aleksandr Gripich. Aleksey Fyodorov won the triple 16.81, Igor Spasovkhodskiy second 16.76 and Lyukman Adams third 16.75.
IAAF plans top anti-doping programme
MONACO (MON): A comprehensive blood testing programme will be organised at the IAAF World Championships as part of a sophisticated anti-doping programme for the 14th edition of the championships. Two years ago the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) collected blood samples from all athletes taking part in the 2011 IAAF World Championships in Daegu, Korea. That anti-doping programme which was conducted in close co-operation with the Lausanne WADA-accredited Anti-Doping Laboratory and with the support of the World Anti-Doping Agency and local partners was unprecedented in world sport history. It was the first time that nearly 2000 elite athletes competing in a major sports event were blood tested under the same optimal conditions, within the same time period. The blood testing in Moscow will be conducted in support of the Athlete Biological Passport programme. As in Daegu, It will cover all disciplines in Athletics and a wide range of relevant biomarkers. Notably, the analyses will not only screen markers indicating the use of EPO or blood manipulation in endurance events but also markers potentially indicating steroid or growth hormone doping more relevant to the power disciplines. All results can ultimately be used in support of an anti-doping rule violation if an athlete’s overall biological profile is found to be consistent with the use of a prohibited substance or a prohibited method, in accordance with IAAF Anti-Doping Rules and Regulations. The blood testing programme in Moscow will be organised in addition to the regular doping controls that are collected at ever IAAF World Championships. Moscow 2013 will witness a programme of approximately 500 urine samples, in and out-of-competition combined. In accordance with the IAAF policy implemented for the first time in 2005 at the World Championships in Helsinki, urine samples collected in Moscow will be kept for long-term storage for possible re-analyses at a later stage in anticipation of new scientific developments. Informs the IAAF.
Coe says fight to focus not only on athletes
LONDON (GBR): IAAF Vice-President Sebastian Coe called on anti-doping authorities to “get tough” on coaches, agents and physios, insisting that the fight against drug cheats in track and field should not only focus on athletes. The World Anti-Doping Agency has compiled a new code, which could come into effect by 2015 if ratified when its foundation board meets in Johannesburg this November, stating that an athlete’s entourage can also be punished should the individual test positive for a banned substance. “Let’s get tough with physios, let’s get tough with coaches, let’s get tough with managers and agents because they’re all part of this landscape,” he said. “This isn’t just something that we should be entirely focusing on the athlete, important as they are and responsible for everything they consume or ingest. It is really important this is a fight that we don’t lose and it’s a fight that we can win.” Lord Coe says per guardian.co.uk.
Powell plans to continue
KINGSTON (JAM): “I have never considered quitting.” That was the message from Jamaican sprinters Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson as they sat before a specially selected media conference, for the first time, since they both tested positive for banned stimulant Oxilofrine at the Jamaican trials. Powell, the former 100 metres world record holder, sporting a blue shirt and khaki slacks, spoke of the emotional turmoil experienced since his June 21 positive test but made it clear that he was committed to putting everything into clearing his name and prolonging his career, which has yielded almost 90 sub-10 seconds clockings and two bronze medals at the IAAF World Championships. “I have never thought about it (retiring). I was just shocked by the news. I have been thinking a lot but never once thought about giving up,” said Powell, who was in his hotel room at his MVP Track Club’s camp in Italy when he was informed of the test results. “I am still training. I consider this an off year, but I am still working hard, training, going to the gym almost every day. It’s very unfortunate that I will not be going to the World Champion
ships, but there is a lot more to go. There is a World Championships, in two years time again and then the Olympics. So there is a lot to look forward to,” said the 30-year-old. Writes Jamaica Gleaner.
OTHER NEWS
TORONTO (CAN): Defending champion, Ethiopian Sahle Warga will return to the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on the 21st of October, reports the IAAF. The IAAF Silver Label Road Race has a2:07.58 course record, set by Kenyan Kenneth Mungara, that Warga aims to beat on his return to the Canadian city. Bad weather conditions and an injury hampered him last year when he took the win in 2:10.36. His preparations this year have been better. He ran a PB of 2:08.19 in the Paris Marathon and has increased his training with a top Ethiopian training group that includes 2:04 marathoner Dino Sefir.
EUGENE (USA): The World Junior Championships in Eugene are just one year away, reports the IAAF. The 15th edition of these championships, which will be held at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field, is the first IAAF World Championship competition to be held in the US since 1992 World CC event in Boston. Tracktown USA hosted a celebration to mark that the championships are just one year away, handing out free Eugene 2014 t-shirts and flags. A social media campaign called “Raise Your Flag” has also been launched to connect people with the event.
SHEFFIELD (UK): The Sheffield City Council are looking to transform the 26 acre Don Valley site making it into an area for sport, leisure and well-being, reports Insidethegames. The Council are looking for developers and partners to help in the redevelopment of the site. Plans for the redevelopment include the addition of facilities for the sports of rugby, basketball and gymnastics as well as a new National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine and a high performance centre.
PARIS (FRA): L´Équipe confirms that French sprinters will go different ways at the London Diamond League meet this weekend. Christophe Lemaitre will on Friday double in the 100 m (against Usain Bolt) and 200 m while fresh sub 10 runner Jimmy Vicaut competes only in the 200 m. France also runs the 4×100 m. That would mean three races for Lemaitre in one evening.
BRUSSELS (BEL): Belgium will not be able to send out a 4x100m women team to the IAAF World Championships. The team was supposed to run at the Diamond League meeting of London this weekend but opted not to run, and this way not try for the standard reports De standaard.
BRUSSELS (BEL): Organizers of the Memorial Van Damme Diamond League meeting in Brussels confirmed European junior heptathlon champion Nafi Thiam will compete in the high jump. Thiam, who holds a personal best of 190 in the high jump, last week improved the Belgian national heptathlon record which was set by Tia Hellebaut. Hellebaut on her turn will be thanked in a special ceremony just before the high jump competition.
NAIROBI (KEN): The Kenyan marathon squads will leave their pre-competition training base later than the rest of the team in one of the measures that have been taken to ensure the athletics team is more successful than its display in London last year. Standard Media report that Athletics Kenya president Isaiah Kiplagat told the media that the marathon squad, while missing some of the top performers over recent years, is strong enough to perform well saying that “even the big stars started performing while young”. Athletics Kenya will hope that these championships will see some of their young athletes transforming themselves into big stars on the world stage.
LONDON (UK): The president of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), John Fahey has told The Independent that the doping in athletics is still “alive and well”. Fahey says that the recent high profile positive tests send a warning to dopers that WADA are actively catching the cheaters. He applauded the IAAF’s response to the doping issues that have arisen in Kenya while stating that Kenya needed to set up its own anti-doping organisation. A big focus for WADA is their new code that aims to not only punish athletes that are doping but also the people around them that are facilitating this doping. This new code is predicted to come into force in 2015.
CAPE TOWN (RSA): Former 800 m World Champion and silver medallist at the London Olympics, Caster Semenya will make one final attempt to qualify for the upcoming World Championships in Moscow in a race in Ninove, Belgium this Saturday, reports Superport.com. She will compete just 48 hours before the deadline for qualifying times is reached. The IAAF B standard for Moscow is 2:01.50 while the A standard is 2:00.00.
STOCKHOLM (SWE): The IAAF reports that 16 year old, World Youth Gold Medallist in the 200m Irene Ekelund of Sweden has been confirmed to compete in the DN Galan in Stockholm on the 22 August. Ekelund broke the Swedish senior indoor 200m record earlier this season and the 22.92 that took her to victory in Donetsk is only one tenth of a second from the Swedish senior outdoor record. After already setting 7 Swedish junior records this year it will be very interesting to see if she can add to her record breaking tally by breaking another senior record when the Diamond League arrives in Stockholm.
KAMPALA (UGA): Top Ugandan distance runner, Moses Kipsiro was beaten twice a
t the Ugandan National Championships last weekend reports All Africa. Ronald Musagala finished ahead of him in the 1500m final while Abdallah Mande won the 5000m. Kipsiro described the results as a “wake up call” and says that he will focus on increasing his speed before the World Championships in Moscow in a few weeks’ time.
FRANKFURT (GER): Two former champions will return to the BMW Frankfurt Marathon while the silver medallist of the World Championships’ Marathon from Daegu 2011 has also been confirmed for the race on 27th October. Gilbert Kirwa won Germany’s oldest city marathon in 2009. He established a course record of 2:06:14, which has been significantly lowered to 2:03:42 in the meantime. One of his toughest rivals will be fellow-Kenyan Vincent Kipruto, who won the silver medal on global stage two years ago and has a superb personal best of 2:05:13. The women’s race will feature a former winner and course record holder as well: Kenya’s Caroline Kilel took the race in 2010 with 2:23:25 and then went on to win the Boston Marathon in 2011. With bib numbers still available organisers expect around 15 000 runners to take part in the 32nd edition of the BMW Frankfurt Marathon. Organizers are informing in a release. Two runners who have clocked their personal bests at the BMW Frankfurt Marathon will return in October as well: Jonstone Maiyo (Kenya/2:10:03 in 2011) and Austria’s record holder Günther Weidlinger (2:10:47 in 2009).
BOGOTA (COL): For the Medio Maraton de Bogota next Sunday some big duels are announced. On the men side Olympic Bronze Marathon 2012 and London Marathon winner 2012 Wilson Kipsang will be the favourite. Geoffrey Kipsang who is the current world leader (58:54) will be his top rival. More quality Kenyans Peter Kirui with 59:39 and last year winner on this course Kiplimo Mutai. London Marathon winner and global medalist Priscah Jeptoo is the top female entry. Also running Isabela Ochichi, Helah Kiprop, Flomena Chepchirchir and Ethiopian Amane Gobena.
LONDON (GBR): British Athletics have signed a new deal with the BBC to continue showing the sport on terrestrial television through until 2020, it was announced, informs insidethegames. The deal ensures that British Athletics’ grand prix events, including the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games, which is due to be held here this weekend to mark the first anniversary of the start of London 2012, and other major domestic events, continue to be broadcast on free-to-air television. The deal was announced at a press conference attended by Sebastian Coe, the former chairman of London 2012 and double Olympic 1500 metres gold medallist, and Justin King, chief executive of Sainsbury’s, the sponsors of this weekend’s three-day meeting. All three days sold out within 90 minutes of tickets going on sale. This deal enables BBC Sport to bring the best of top-flight UK competition to audiences complementing our coverage of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the 2016 Olympics in Rio and the 2017 World Athletics Championships in London, making the BBC the place for audiences to follow the full story of the UK’s top track and field athletes right through to 2020.
LONDON (GBR): World Champion at 400 m hurdles Dai Greene will not compete in London after failing to recover from a slight niggle in his leg. Informs his management.
FELDKIRCH (AUT): Austrian 100 m hurdles record holder and olympic finalist Beate Schrott will not run at this weekend´s national championships in Feldkirch-Gisingen. After the training on Wednesdayshe decided not to run because of the risk that her hamstring injury could return. Top Austrian runner Andreas Vojta has a tough plan for the weekend. First to run on Saturday the mile at London Diamond League meet, fly back the same evening and run at the nationals the 1500 m on Sunday.
RESULTS
TABOR (CZE, Jul 24): Good news for 800 m runners at the International meet here. Slovak Jozef Repcik clocked World B-standard when winning the 800 m in 1:46.11. The same for Czech Lenka Masna in women 800 m with 2:00.78. Shot putter Ladislav Prasil confirmed top shape with 21.21 win. In the high jump battle Jaroslav Baba, Peter Horak and Matus Bubenik all cleared 224 cm. Solid hurdles by Czech Martin Mazac 13.69 (+0.1) and German Georg Fleischhauer 50.83. Jamaican Edino Steele clearly won the 400 m in good 45.83. The 100 m was staged against -1.6 wind and won by Japanese Masashi Eriguchi 10.50 ahead of Daniel Bailey of Antigua 10.56. Slovak Jana Veldakova leaped to 654 (+1.3).
DONETSK (UKR, Jul 24): National Championships started with first day and 100 m winners Natalya Pogrebnyak 11.54 (-2.5, Ryemyen and Povkh did not run) and Vitaliy Korzh 10.51 (-0.2) over favorite Ihor Bodrov 10.52. Anna Plotitsyna won the women hurdles 13.05 (+0.4). Discus winners were Mykyta Nesterenko 58.74 and Natalya Semenova 59.34. In the 400 m heats Natalya Pyhyda 51.39.
BUCURESTI (ROU, Jul 23): Heptathlon national champion Beatrice Puiu scored 5814 points here.
