Paula

Paula Radcliffe Injury Scare- The world's fastest mum had an MRI scan on her hip and it is feared this will affect her Olympic bid. The Marathon World Record Holder has been on crutches since a muscle pull. She hopes it will only sideline her for 3 weeks.

In the Forum: Will Paula win the Olympics?

American Drug Coach in convicted

The trial of Trevor Graham (Jamaican Coach and alleged Drug distributer to many American Sprinters) finished this week. Trevor Graham, who sent the famous syringe that brought to light Victor Conte's famous San Francisco 'BALCO' laboratory, thought he was immune to prosecution after co-operating with federal agents with a performance enhancing drugs investigation 5 years ago. It turns out Trevor was not completely honest when he told federal agents he never sent his own athletes to admitted performance enhancing drug dealer Angel Heredia (former Mexican shot putter). It is said that Victor Conte and Angel Heredia between them supplied the world's fastest runners. Trevor Graham claims he sent the original syringe to WADA (World Anti Doping Association) to clean up the sport but many people believe this was a revenge attack to take out a competitor (Victor Conte/BALCO). Victor Conte served four months in jail for conspiracy to distribute steroids and a second count of laundering a portion of a cheque. The sadly trial failed to bring to light many names from the world of athletics who supposedly took performance enhancing drugs from Angel Heredia.

Blade Runner Wins Right to Run

Oscar Pistorious AKA "The Blade Runner" has been told he can now compete as an able bodied runner in the Olympics after the Court of arbitration for sport overturned a ruling by the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federation). The South African competes with prosthetic running legs which were claimed to give him an unfair advantage. It looks unlikely we will be seeing Oscar in Beijing though, he admitted this week he is behind in training.

In the Forum: Should disabled athletes be able to run in able bodied events?

 

Sorry Tom

How about running the fastest British Marathon time by 3 minutes and reaching the Olympic Qualifying mark but are not allowed to go to the Olympics! Thomas Abyu ran 2 hours 10 minutes at the adidas Dublin Marathon in 2007 but, this week Dan Robinson was the only Britain selected to go to Beijing. Sadly for Tomas the adidas Dublin Marathon course was not measured by iaaf officials and therefore his time was not ratified. For world records and championship qualifying times to count the event must be measured before and after the event by an IAAF/AIMS approved A/B measurer. The Dublin marathon forgot to do this and therefore Ethiopian born Tomas will have to watch the games at home!  

 

Blast from the Past!

Each week I will find video's that will keep you away from doing work for at least another 5 minutes! This week I wish to share with you the best race I have ever seen. The 2003 World Steeple-chase Championships was a pure grudge match between Kenyan athlete Ezekiel Kemboi and former Kenyan athlete (now representing Quatar) Saif Saheen A.K.A. Stephen Cherono. There was no way the proud Kenyan's would lose "their event" (the steeplechase) to a defected Kenyan!