Zaripova Faces Doping Ban

Published by SuperSport on January 24, 2015

Olympic 3 000 metres steeplechase champion Yulia Zaripova faces a doping ban and the potential loss of several major titles in the latest scandal to hit Russian athletics.

Athletics' world governing body, the IAAF, told The Associated Press that Zaripova is under suspicion under biological passport rules, a means to track extreme blood values which indicate doping.

IAAF spokesman Chris Turner said "a decision is expected soon" on Zaripova, who voluntarily withdrew from competition in July 2013.

Zaripova has previously said she missed the August 2013 World Championships in Moscow after injuring her leg in training and then that she was taking a break from athletics to have a baby.

Her case follows that of five Russian race walkers, three of them Olympic champions, banned on Tuesday. In those cases, results were annulled as far back as 2009, including five World Championship gold medal-winning performances.