TheFinalSprint.com - Track & Field, Marathons, Racing News, Training Advice, Elite Athlete Blogs, Interviews, Podcasts, Videos and More! - TheFinalSprint.com is the Premier Destination for Track & Field, Marathon, Cross Country, Olympic and Road Racing Enthusiasts.

Lead Stories: Sunday, September 7, 2008

IAAF Annuls Men’s 4×400m World Record

Posted August 12th, 2008 at 9:23 AM by Bob Ramsak

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

The IAAF — track & field’s international governing body — announced today that it has annulled the men’s 4×400m world record following Antonio Pettigrew’s recent admission of doping.

Pettigrew, along with Jerome Young, Tyree Washington and Michael Johnson clocked 2:54.20 at the 1998 Goodwill Games, breaking the previous mark by 0.09 seconds.

The record will now revert to 2:54.29 set by another U.S. squad –Andrew Valmon, Quincy Watts, Harry Reynolds and Johnson– at the 1993 World championships in Stuttgart.
Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this post | Permalink

JUSTICE PREVAILS:
Double-Amputee Pistorius Wins Appeal Over IAAF; Earns Right to Try for Olympics

Posted May 16th, 2008 at 4:18 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

Double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius won his appeal to be eligible to compete in the Olympics using the carbon-fiber prosthetics that have gained him the nickname “Blade Runner.'’

The Court of Arbitration for Sport today overturned a ban on the 21-year-old South African runner by the International Association of Athletics Federations, which said studies found the prosthetic blades gave him an unfair advantage.

“The panel was not persuaded that there was sufficient evidence of any metabolic advantage,'’ the Lausanne, Switzerland-based court said in a ruling on its Web site.

Pistorius needs to shave 1.01 seconds from his best time to reach the Olympic qualifying standard for the 400-meter sprint to compete in the race at the Beijing Games in August. The Associated Press said he may be picked as an alternate for the South African team even if he doesn’t meet the qualifying mark.
Read the rest of this entry »

6 comments, add yours | Permalink

TFS News Briefs: 3/29/08

Posted March 29th, 2008 at 1:45 PM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Cross Country, Track & Field, Olympics, Drugs In Sports, TFS News Briefs

Coe Blames Athletes and Coaches, Not Federations, For Cross-Country’s Decline
A report in UK’s Guardian continues the recent discussion about the decline of European decline in cross-country. IAAF President Lamine Diack called Germany’s one-woman delegation (Susanne Hahn) “shameful.” (However, I must say that mad props should go to Hahn!) IAAF VP Sebastian Coe, the unparalleled middle-distance runner who won 4 Olympic medals and set 11 world records (8 outdoors/3 indoors), blamed the individual athletes and coaches, whom he said “don’t see it… You rarely find anyone at a European level now who sees a correlation from cross country to track.”
Read more at: [Guardian, UK]

African Showcase In Edinburgh
Speaking of cross-country, the 11th hour until the big race is upon us. At 9:45am Sunday morning (EST) (9:05 for the women’s race) the Africans will toe the line in Edinburgh, Scotland to take their 22nd world championship in a row at the 36th IAAF World Cross Country Championships. Among the favorites are 2006 winner Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele, defending champ Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea, Moses Kipsiro of Uganda and a whole host of Kenyan runners, including Gideon Ngatuny. The lone non-African contender is Craig Mottram of Australia. In the women’s race, Tirunesh Dibaba hopes to join Bekele in an Ethiopian sweep.
Read more at: [IAAF][Peninsula On-line, Qatar]

Speaking of Mottram…
That’s all we can do because he’s certainly not doing any speaking for himself. He has initiated his usual pre-race lock-out of the media in order to prepare for the race. Benita Johnson, Mottram’s teammate and training partner, has joined him in the media ban. The Sydney Morning Herald states that the media ban is “self-imposed,” but taskmaster coach Nic Bideau must have a major say in the decision. Bideau told the media that “the interviews might make [Mottram] more famous and get him more sponsorship deals, but it’s not going to help him run better.”
Read more at: [Sydney Morning Herald][More Mottram]
Read the rest of this entry »

2 comments, add yours | Permalink

TFS News Briefs: 3/06/08

Posted March 6th, 2008 at 2:00 PM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Track & Field, Olympics, TFS News Briefs

Epic Battle Shaping Up Between Pistorius and IAAF
Armed with a new set of results that contradicts the IAAF’s, Oscar Pistorius is confident about winning the appeal of his suspension. The IAAF is standing by their decision.
Read more at: [Times Online, UK][Sports Illustrated]

IAAF Defends Dwain Chambers
The IAAF is defending drug cheat Dwain Chambers’ right to compete. IAAF president Lamine Diack said, “I won’t make a special case out of this. When we have rules, we respect them.”
Read more at: [Sports Illustrated]

Article Focuses On Alicia Shay’s Beijing Pursuit
An article focusing on Alicia Shay’s pursuit of her Olympic dream in honor of her late husband Ryan is featured on InsideBayArea.com
Read more at: [InsideBayArea.com]
Photo courtesy of Alicia Shay.
Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this post | Permalink

Oscar Pistorius Controversy: Letter from Ossur CEO to IAAF President Lamine Diack

Posted December 18th, 2007 at 5:43 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, SoundOFF, Columns, Olympics

The following letter was sent from Ossur President & CEO, Jon Sigurdsson to the President of the IAAF, Mr. Lamine Diack, stating the prosthetic company’s position on the Oscar Pistorius controversy.

The IAAF is expected to announce this week whether Pistorius, a South African double-amputee who runs with the assistance of Ossur-made prosthetics, will be allowed to compete in the able-bodied Olympics and IAAF-sanctioned events.

Dear Mr. Diack,

I would like to commend and continue to support the efforts of the IAAF to make an informed decision on the case of bilateral amputee athlete, Oscar Pistorius.

Oscar - on his two carbon fiber “blades” - has challenged the way we all think of amputees and sport. As the innovation leader in advanced prosthetics, we at Ossur are also scratching our heads as we observe the phenomenon that is Oscar Pistorius. Still, Ossur has never questioned those who push themselves further. Our motto, “Life Without Limitations,” is not an idle phrase. We stand behind it in all our actions, and will support those who, like Oscar, dare to act on their dreams.

For Oscar, that dream is the Olympic stage, but what is at play here will affect all amputee athletes who wish to compete against the able-bodied in any IAAF sanctioned event.
Read the rest of this entry »

4 comments, add yours | Permalink

Doha & Istanbul Will Host World Indoor Champs In 2010 and 2012

Posted November 24th, 2007 at 4:50 PM by Hariz Siddiqui

Section: News & Results, Cross Country, Track & Field

On the second day of its meeting in Monaco, the IAAF Council agreed a number of hosts for future events.

There were two candidates for the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships, the second most important competition on the IAAF calendar, Doha, Qatar and Istanbul, Turkey. Following excellent presentations from the two candidates, a question and answer session, Council voted, and the winner was Doha, host of the 2006 Asian Games.

However, due to the excellence of the Istanbul candidature, Council also agreed to award that city the 2012 edition of the same competition.

“These were clearly two top class candidates demonstrating not only excellent facilities and organizational capabilities but outstanding levels of support from public authorities,” said IAAF President Lamine Diack. “I am glad that Council agreed that we should take this opportunity to ensure that the next two editions of the World Indoor Championships would help us in our aims to universalize our sport.”
Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this post | Permalink

President Diack’s Speech to World Conference on Doping in Sport

Posted November 17th, 2007 at 3:12 PM by Martin Kennedy

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

On the second day of the third World Conference on Doping in Sport organised by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) which is taking place in Madrid, Spain, IAAF President Lamine Diack made the following speech addressing the IAAF’s position with regard to the revision of the World Anti-Doping Code :

The occasion of this third World Anti-Doping Conference, and a first revision of the World Anti-Doping Code, marks a new chapter in the modern day fight against doping and is an appropriate time to reflect not only upon what has been achieved since the introduction of the Code four years ago but also to examine some of the key areas which still need to be addressed.
Read the rest of this entry »

One comment, add yours | Permalink

WADA “Doping in Sport” Conference Set to Open Thursday in Madrid

Posted November 14th, 2007 at 7:30 PM by Martin Kennedy

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

Final preparations are underway for the Third World Conference on Doping in Sport organised by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) which will open in Madrid tomorrow, Thursday 15 November, and run until the 17 November. The official IAAF delegation will be led by IAAF President Lamine Diack and IAAF Council Member Abby Hoffman.

The chief topic of discussion will be the revision of the World Anti-Doping Code (Code) - the core document adopted in 2003 by the Sport Movement and Governments of the world as the framework for the global harmonised fight against doping in sport, and the document upon which the IAAF bases it’s own Anti-Doping Rules.

The process of revising the Code is intended to fine-tune its provisions based on the experience gained to date and to strengthen global efforts against doping in sport. The draft revised Code will be presented to WADA’s Foundation Board for approval on 17 November 2007
Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this post | Permalink

IAAF President Praises London 2012 Olympic
Stadium Design

Posted November 12th, 2007 at 11:25 AM by Martin Kennedy

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

The President of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has praised the designs of the London 2012 Olympic Stadium.

President of the IAAF Mr Lamine Diack said: ‘The designs for the 2012 Olympic stadium indicate a secure future for the Olympics’ number one sport in the British capital.

‘London’s successful bid for the 2012 Games had legacy at its heart, and in particular, the need to provide sustainable venues and projects, as part of a vision of the city’s future development.

‘In turn, the sport of Athletics, whose rules and heritage owe so much to Great Britain, has been in desperate need for a world class competition facility in London, to showcase the sport in the UK, especially for international events such as the annual IAAF Super Grand Prix.

Read the rest of this entry at our partner site: SummerOlympian.com

Comment on this post | Permalink

On Eve of Title Defense, Kiplagat in “Right Mood”

Posted October 13th, 2007 at 4:45 PM by Bob Ramsak

Section: News & Results

When she sets out to defend her World Road Running title on Sunday, Lornah Kiplagat will be also be aiming to join some fine company.

Counting the now discontinued World Half Marathon Championships, only Kenyan Tegla Loroupe and Great Britain’s Paula Radcliffe, both three-time winners, have managed to defend their road running titles. And the Kenyan-born Dutchwoman, all around one of the finest road runners ever, is optimistic about joining that illustrious pair.

“Everything is going normally and everything is going well,” said Kiplagat, who last year lowered the world record in the 20km to 1:03:21 with her victory in the first edition of the reconstituted championships in Debrecen, Hungary. “I’m in the right mood going into the race. I’ve spent the last week in Italy, so it could be a good result.”

Kiplagat followed up with an overwhelming victory at the World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa last March, and is now on the rebound from a minor calf injury that sidelined her from the World Championships on the track in Osaka in August.
Read the rest of this entry »

One comment, add yours | Permalink