Russian & Kenyan athletes may miss 2016 Olympics...

There were two big news stories yesterday regarding doping and whether countries will be able to compete in the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

Kenya...On Thursday, the compliane committee of the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) said that Kenya was "non-compliant" citing issues with anti-doping legislation. There is now a very real risk that some of the World's best athletes may miss the Olympics. More on BBC Sport

Russia....The New York Times ran a story showing the extent of the state involvement in covering up doping. The story is HERE

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced today that they want an immediate investigation. BBC Sport

Irish performances at the IAAF World Cup of Race Walking - Sat 12th/Sun 13th May 2012

The IAAF World Cup of Race Walking was held in Saransk, Russia last weekend and resulted in some fine Irish performances. Best of the lot was Colin Griffin (Ballinamore AC) from Leitrim who qualified for the London Olympics after finishing in 15th place in a time of 3:52.55, well inside the 'A' standard of 3:59. This brings the total qualifiers in Athletics to 18, the highest ever number to achieve the A standard. In the same race, Jamie Costin (West Waterford AC) was unable to finish in the hot conditions and failed to qualify for his fourth Olympics. Michael Doyle also posted a DNF.

50 Kilometres Race Walk - M   FINAL
13 May 2012 - 8:30
Position    Bib    Athlete    Country    Mark     .
1    358    Sergey Kirdyapkin     RUS    3:38:08    (WL)
2    354    Igor Erokhin     RUS    3:38:10    (SB)
3    114    Jared Tallent     AUS    3:40:32    (SB)
15    254    Colin Griffin     IRL    3:52:55    (SB)
(72 finishers)

In the mens 20k race, Rob Heffernan (Togher AC) used the event as part of his preparation for the 50k race in the Olympics. Rob finished in 12th place in 1:21.51.  In the same race Brendan Boyce (Letterkenny AC), who has already qualified for the 50k in London finished 65th in 1:27.

20 Kilometres Race Walk - M   FINAL
12 May 2012 - 18:15
Position    Bib    Athlete    Country    Mark     .
1    152    Zhen Wang     CHN    1:19:13     .
2    359    Andrey Krivov     RUS    1:19:27     .
3    357    Vladimir Kanaykin     RUS    1:19:43    (SB)
12    255    Robert Heffernan     IRL    1:21:51     .
64    251    Brendan Boyce     IRL    1:27:46    (SB)
(108 finishers)

In the mens 10k racewalk, Luke Hickey (Leevale AC) and James Treanor (Shercock AC) finished in 48:05 and 48:55 respectively.

10 Kilometres Race Walk - M   FINAL
IntermediateResults 5km
Position    Bib    Athlete    Country    Mark     .
1    160    Eider Arévalo     COL    41:17    (SB)
2    356    Alexander Ivanov     RUS    41:42     .
3    308    Jesús Tadeo Vega     MEX    41:56     .
54    256    Luke Hickey     IRL    48:05     .
59    257    James Treanor     IRL    48:55
(63 finishers)

In the womens 50k race, Olive Loughnane (Loughrea AC) who lives near Coachford finished in a seasons best time of 1:31.32 and in eight place. Just to give some idea of the tough conditions, Olive sent this out on her Twitter account just before the race...."Conditions here in Saransk are brutal. Feels like 30 & it's only 10:30. It's going to be a war of attrition in 3 hours". In the same race, Laura Reynolds (Mohill AC) was on the target for the Olympic Standard for three quarters of the race however she faded in the latter stages finishing in 1:37:06 outside her best of 1:34:42 that she set earlier in the year in Naumburg.

20 Kilometres Race Walk - W   FINAL
13 May 2012 - 13:20
Position    Bib    Athlete    Country    Mark     .
1    636    Elena Lashmanova     RUS    1:27:38     .
2    633    Olga Kaniskina     RUS    1:28:33    (SB)
3    553    María José Poves     ESP    1:29:10     .
8    583    Olive Loughnane     IRL    1:31:32    (SB)
35    585    Laura Reynolds     IRL    1:37:06
(85 finishers)

In the womens 10k race walk, Kate Veale of West Waterford AC finished an impressive sixth place in a time of 46:53, not too far from her personal best time of 46:32. Kate who is the current World Youth Champion is sitting her leaving cert exams in a few weeks time. In the same race Emma Prendeville finished 45th.

10 Kilometres Race Walk - W   FINAL
12 May 2012 - 17:00
Position    Bib    Athlete    Country    Mark     .
1    528    Sandra Arenas     COL    45:57     .
2    609    Alejandra Ortega     MEX    46:00    (AJ)
3    635    Nadezhda Leontyeva     RUS    46:02     .
6    586    Kate Veale     IRL    46:53    (SB)
45    584    Emma Prendiville     IRL    55:31   
(48 finishers)

Winner of 2010 Dublin Marathon stripped of her Tokyo Marathon title

The Tokyo Marathon Foundation have announced that a doping test performed at the Feb. 27, 2011 Tokyo Marathon on women's winner Tatyana Aryasova of Russia returned positive for HES (hydroxyethyl starch), a banned substance typically used to conceal use of other banned performance-enhancing substances.  As a result of the positive test, Aryasova has been stripped of her 2011 title as she failed to challenge a two-year doping by the International Association of Athletics Federation during an appeal period that ended last week.  Runner-up Noriko Higuchi (Team Wacoal) has been elevated to the winner's place and will be paid the difference in prize money from her previous finishing position.

According to the Japan Anti-Doping Agency, HES is used to conceal blood doping carried out to improve aerobic performance.  This is the first time the substance has been detected at a race within Japan, but the number of athletes caught using it in overseas cycling races and similar events is considerable.  According to the Tokyo Marathon Foundation, the announcement of the result was held until the completion of the proper procedures by the IAAF.  Aryasova will be stripped of all race results following last year's Tokyo Marathon and will serve a two-year ban beginning last April 29.

In the Dublin City Marathon in October 2010, Tatyana Aryasova of Russia broke the women's course record by winning in a time of 2:26.12, beating the old record of 2:27.22, set by Ruth Kitol of Kenya in 2003.

Considering that she failed a drugs test just four months later, it raises a serious question about her Dublin victory. Was she clean then?