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Lead Stories: Sunday, November 23, 2008

Slovenian Federation Upholds Ceplak Doping Ban

Posted March 27th, 2008 at 12:00 PM by Bob Ramsak

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Drugs In Sports

The Slovenian Athletics Federation (AZS) has upheld a two-year doping ban for Olympic 800m bronze medalist Jolanda Ceplak.

“It was a difficult decision to reach, but we have concluded that Jolanda Ceplak is guilty,” said Slavko Cerne, the president of the federation’s Disciplinary Commission after a seven-hour session that didn’t conclude until after midnight Thursday.

The 31-year-old Ceplak, the world indoor record holder in the 800m, tested positive for the banned blood booster EPO at an out-of-competition test in Monte Carlo on June 18, 2007. The “B” sample test confirmed the A sample finding, resulting in a provisional suspension by the sport’s international governing body, the IAAF, on July 26, 2007.

Citing illness, Ceplak was not present at the hearing, which was held behind closed doors due to “the personal and sensitive nature of some of topics” being discussed. Cerne stressed that the hearing could have been rescheduled in order for Ceplak to attend, but her attorney declined making that request.
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Slovenia’s Ceplak Edges Closer to Two-Year Doping Ban

Posted November 20th, 2007 at 2:10 PM by Bob Ramsak

Section: News & Results, Drugs In Sports

Olympic 800m bronze medallist Jolanda Ceplak of Slovenia edged closer to a two-year doping ban today after the nation’s athletics federation rejected any doubts about the validity of the athlete’s positive test for EPO last June.

“All doubts about the tests’ accuracy have been disproved,” said Peter Kukovica, president of the AZS, Slovenia’s athletics federation, announcing the unanimous decision by the federation’s anti-doping commission.

The 31-year-old Ceplak, the world indoor record holder in the 800m, tested positive for the banned blood booster EPO after an out-of-competition test in Monte Carlo on June 18. The B sample test confirmed the A sample finding, resulting in a provisional suspension by the sport’s international governing body, the IAAF, on July 26.

In September, the anti-doping commission was unable to reach a decision in the case, pending an additional investigation. Expert testimony since from two noted biochemists and the Slovenian athletics team doctor has dispelled any possibility of testing irregularities, Kukovica said.
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Defar returns, Gebrselassie to chase hour run world record in Ostrava

Posted June 26th, 2007 at 11:10 AM by Bob Ramsak

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

On the track where Kenenisa Bekele succeeded Haile Gebrselassie as the 10,000m world record holder, the fabled Ethiopian and his younger compatriot Meseret Defar are poised to take center stage when the European international season resumes on Wednesday at the 46th Golden Spike Grand Prix in this sprawling eastern Czech city.

Just 12 days after her staggering 14:16.63 world record in Oslo, Defar returns to action again in the 5000. Although the 23-year-old Olympic champion hasn’t promised to take her record down even further, she hasn’t fully dismissed the possibility either.

“I’m in good condition right now,” Defar said. “I ran a very good race in Oslo and I’m hoping to perform well in Ostrava too.”

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Ostrava Preview: Defar, Haile, Isinbayeva and more

Posted June 26th, 2007 at 5:00 AM by Bob Ramsak

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

With an impressive slate of Olympic, World and continental champions and a handful of World record assaults, the IAAF World Athletics Tour 2007 resumes with a bang on Wednesday at the 46th edition of the Golden Spike in Ostrava.

DEFAR LOOKING FOR FAST OSLO FOLLOW-UP

While organiZers have again lured a strong collection of talent to this eastern Czech city, one of the most keenly observed will Olympic 5000m champion Meseret Defar. Hot on the heels of her staggering 14:16.63 World record in Oslo 10 days ago, Defar returns to action to try and take that 5000m mark down even further.

After breaking her own mark by almost eight seconds, the 23-year-old Ethiopian said in a quite straightforward fashion in Oslo that there’s no reason not to try again in Ostrava. Besides compatriots Gelete Burka and Meselech Melkamu, organizers have also brought in Russian Olga Komyagina to set the pace, just as she did in that unforgettable run in Oslo.
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World Athletics Tours resumes Saturday in Dakar

Posted April 26th, 2007 at 9:43 AM by Bob Ramsak

Section: News & Results

The IAAF World Athletics Tour resumes on Saturday with the Meeting International d’Athletisme de la Ville de Dakar in the Senegalese capital.

The program includes both the men’s and women’s 800, and a men’s 3000. Among the athletes expected to compete are Jolanda Ceplak, the world indoor record holder at 800m and the Olympic bronze medallist, and Kenyans Joseph Ebuya and Sammy Kipketer in the men’s 3000m.

Last year a crowd of more than 60,000 spectators gathered in the Leopold Senghor stadium. The meet opens with competition in the men’s shot put on the day before, held on the nearby Island of Gorée, for 300 years the staging point for African slave trade.
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Chojecka completes double & Spanish men sweep 1500m at European Indoors

Posted March 4th, 2007 at 10:00 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Lidia Chojecka of Poland became the first woman ever in the history of the European Indoor Championships to win double gold in the 1500m and 3000m, while the Spanish men became the first team ever to sweep the podium in the men’s 1500m as the 29th European Indoor Championships concluded here today at the National Indoor Arena.

Chojecka, 30, who was also the defending champion in the 3000m, won today’s 15-lap race easily in 8:43.25 off of an honest pace set by Britain’s Jo Pavey. Chojecka was content to follow Pavey closely, who led nearly every lap, along with Spain’s Marta Domínguez. Both Chojecka and Domínguez possess fierce kicks, and the race was setting up perfectly for the Pole.
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Rugged racing marks first day of European Championships

Posted March 2nd, 2007 at 3:39 PM by Jamal Walker

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Mo Farah’s fall in this morning’s 3000m qualifying foreshadowed more rough racing later in the day as the 29th European Indoor Championships continued at the National Indoor Arena here. In one particular case, the consequences were severe.

After Oksana Zbrozhek of Russian won the first of four heats in the women’s 800m in 2:03.67, things turned ugly in the second heat. Just past the 400m mark, Karen Harewood of Great Britain was tripped from behind by Mariya Shapayeva of Russia. The Briton fell hard to the track, clutching her left knee, screaming in pain. Her fall set off a chain reaction which saw Maria Carmo Tavares of Portugal and Eléni Filándra of Greece, also fall to the track.

The Portuguese and the Greek were also hurt, but less severely than Harewood who, according to a British team official, had a “suspected broken leg.” Harewood had to be removed from the floor on a stretcher, wearing an oxygen mask and tethered to an IV line in her arm.
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Lagat wins first 1,000m race at BW Bank Meeting in Germany

Posted February 12th, 2007 at 5:00 PM by Bob Ramsak

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Bernard Lagat had some unexpected company when Dutchman Arnoud Okken kicked by him at the bell of the 1000m at the BW Bank Meeting in Karlsruhe, Germany.

Lagat was forced wide around the final bend, but held on and took the 2:18.12 victory. In his first race over the distance, Lagat fell 0.26 seconds shy of David Krummenacker’s 2:17.86 U.S. record from 2002.
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