The Electronic Telegraph Tuesday, 7 August 2001 Tom Knight OLGA Yegorova, the Russian athlete who was controversially reinstated to run in the World Championships despite her positive test for the blood-boosting drug, EPO, could yet be banned. It emerged yesterday that the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) are awaiting the results of a blood test provided by Yegorova shortly after last month's Golden League meeting in Paris. That meeting is where the 29-year-old world indoor 3,000 metres champion became the first athlete to test positive for EPO, the drug which boosts stamina by improving the blood's ability to transport oxygen to the muscles. Yegorova, whose times have improved markedly this season, escaped a ban when the IAAF were forced to admit that the test results were invalid because the French authorities had not followed the accepted protocol, which involves taking blood and urine samples. The French testers had only taken a urine sample. Yegorova's presence in Edmonton to run in Thursday's heats of the 5,000m caused a storm of protest from athletes, including Romania's Gaby Szabo, the Olympic champion and Britain's Paula Radcliffe. The Russian has insisted she is innocent. Szabo, meanwhile, has threatened to boycott the 5,000m if Yegorova takes part while Radcliffe has talked of athletes staging a sit-down protest. Now it appears that Szabo may not have to carry out her threat. Istvan Gyulai, the IAAF's general secretary, admitted Yegorova was among a number of athletes who underwent blood tests soon after the Paris meeting. Said Gyulai: "The IAAF have done tests in the past and I know Yegorova was part of that process. "We are hoping to release the results of those tests as soon as possible." Asked if those results would be available before Yegorova's planned appearance in the Commonwealth Stadium, Gyulai said: "Definitely. This is why I say to Ms Szabo, have no worries." The controversy has overshadowed Szabo's achievements on the track, where she has qualified for tonight's final of the 1500m. Jos Hermens, her manager, has condemned the IAAF's bungling of Yegorova's test. He said: "It took 10 years to find a test for EPO and now they have it, it is messed up. We accept that Yegorova has been reinstated on a technicality. Those are the rules of our sport. But this is not nandrolone which, it can be argued, gets into the body through supplements. EPO can only get into the body through injections or whatever." Radcliffe has declined to comment further on the Yegorova affair until after she runs in tonight's final of the 10,000m. Radcliffe, who since finishing fourth in Sydney has won the world half-marathon and cross-country titles, goes into the race confident that this could be her best chance of finally winning gold on the track. Meanwhile, former world champion Stephane Diagana has withdrawn from the men's 400m hurdles, the French chief coach, Robert Poirier, said yesterday. The 32-year-old 1997 champion has been fighting against an injury to his right ankle, which had stopped him from training properly. The European record holder tested the ankle on Sunday but was unable to a clear even one hurdle. The opening heats are scheduled today. "After a long discussion we reached agreement that he would not run the 400m hurdles," Poirier said. "I preferred to take this decision with him so as to help the chances of the 4x400m relay this weekend and more importantly to let him keep competing in the long term." Diagana's withdrawal is another blow for the French team, who are looking to make up for poor performances at the Sydney Olympics last year when they failed to win a single medal. Sprinter Christine Arron and pole vaulter Jean Galfione also pulled out with injuries, while the favourite in the heptathlon, Eunice Barber, fouled out in the shot put and retired. World shot put champion John Godina of the United States crashed out of the discus competition in qualifying last night, ending his hopes of a unique double. Four-times world champion Lars Riedel of Germany needed only one throw to set a season's best of 68.26 metres and go straight into tomorrow's final. After winning his third world shot put gold on Saturday, Godina said he wanted to be the first athlete to also win the discus competition. Eamonn Condon www.RunnersGoal.com
