|
Pole vault world record-holder Yelena Isinbayeva will make her first appearance of the season at next month’s Diamond League meeting in Shanghai, the Russian athletics federation (VFLA) announced yesterday. |
Media reports suggested Isinbayeva was considering retirement after failing to win her third consecutive gold at last year’s London Olympics and then missing the indoor season.
However, VFLA chief Valentin Balakhnichyov said the 30-year-old would definitely compete at the World Championships in Moscow in August. “She has been training hard. She wants to come back stronger than ever,” Balakhnichyov said.
The flamboyant Russian was virtually unbeatable in the pole vault after setting her first world record in 2003 but has struggled to maintain her dominance since the 2009 World Championships. The Shanghai meeting will take place on May 18.
High-jump star Vlasic to return to action on May 25
New York: Croatia’s double high jump world champion Blanka Vlasic said yesterday she will return to competition after injury at next month’s Diamond League meeting in New York.
“It will be like starting all over again. Thank God I can finally return,” Vlasic, who has been absent since September 2011 with a foot injury, wrote in her personal website.
“I want to enjoy every moment, because now I can get back to doing what I love: jump,” the 29-year-old Croatian added, confirming her return for the May 25 event at New York’s Icahn Stadium.
Vlasic underwent surgery on her left foot in April 2012, three months after having surgery on an Achilles tendon. An infection then forced her to postpone her return.
Vlasic won World Championship gold in 2007 and 2009, and has also won two world indoor titles and a silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Russian cyclist Kaikov sacked for doping
Moscow: European track cycling champion Valery Kaikov has been fired by the Rusvelo team for failing a drugs test, the Russian outfit said yesterday. “Kaikov had his contract terminated after testing positive for a prohibited substance,” the team said in a statement. “Rusvelo has a zero tolerance for doping and had already informed the International Cycling Union (UCI) about Kaikov’s dismissal,” added Katusha’s reserve team, which competes on the second-tier Continental Tour.
The 24-year-old rider, who won gold at last year’s European track cycling championships in the team pursuit and finished second in the Madison, becomes the second Russian rider in five days to fail a drugs test. Alexander Serebryakov, 25, who rides for Spanish outfit Euskaltel-Euskadi, was provisionally suspended by the UCI on Sunday after testing positive for the bloodbooster EPO.
Russian officials have been told to get tough on doping after the UCI rejected Katusha’s application to compete in the top flight because of the team’s doping record over the past four years. Katusha, who finished second in the World Tour standings last year and have world number one Joaquim Rodriguez in their ranks, were reinstated in February after appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.