Russian athletes banned for doping

on October 22, 2008 by Administrator

A total of seven female Russian athletes have been banned for two years after being found guilty of manipulating drug samples. Tatyana Tomashova, Yelena Soboleva, Yuliya Fomenko, Svetlana Cherkasova, Darya Pishchalnikova, Gulfia Khanafeyeva, and Olga Yegorova were originally suspended by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) in July of this year and were not allowed to compete in the Beijing Olympic Games.

Tomashova is a double world 1,500 metres champion, whilst Soboleva is a world indoor 1,500 metres champion. Fomenko and Cherkasova are both talented long-distance runners and Pishchalnikova is a European discus champion. Khanafeyeva is a hammer thrower and Yegorova, a popular figure in the world of Russian athletics, is a former 5,000 metres champion.

The women were banned after the IAAF found that their drug samples taken during May 2007 and during last year's world championships did not match.

Even though the DNA did not match, providing the authorities with proof that the athletes had manipulated the doping control process, the women were not banned straight away. However, after failing to provide proof of their innocence, Tomashova and her fellow Russian team mates were banned for two years.

The women have now all retired from athletics, apart from Olga Yegorova. Tatyana Tomashova still maintains her innocence, considering herself a victim in this controversial situation.

She has publicly spoken of this belief and has also revealed that the