Athletics is braced for further blows to its credibility today when the second part of the World Anti-Doping Agency report into Russian doping is revealed, but Derval O’Rourke knew all along she was being cheated, writes Cathal Dennehy.

After the worst week in the history of the sport, IAAF president Seb Coe faces the unenviable task of guiding athletics through crisis and ending the doping culture, writes Cathal Dennehy.

Robert Heffernan finished a fighting fifth in the men’s 50km race walk in 3:44:17 in a brave bid to defend his world title at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, while Ireland’s men’s 4x400m relay team set a national record.

Dafne Schippers smashed the European record to win the world 200m title in 21.63 seconds at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing moving her to Number 3 on the world all-time 200m list.

‘I feel good, my training’s gone well, I’m in a good place mentally and physically’

Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin will renew their battle for World Championship gold this afternoon after the pair cruised into today’s 200 metres final (1.55pm Irish time, live on BBC2).

There was no joy for the Irish women on the third day of the IAAF World Championships in Beijing with Tori Pena, Michelle Finn, Sara Treacy and Kerry O’Flaherty missing out on qualification in their respective events.

Thomas Barr and Mark English missed out on making their respective finals at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing yesterday.

Robert Heffernan believes he is in with a “fighting chance” of defending his World 50km Race Walk title when he toes the line at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing next week.

Sonia O’Sullivan narrowly missed out being elected to the IAAF Council on the day Sebastian Coe was elected the new president of the international athletics governing body.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Kelly-Ann Baptiste withdrew from the World Championships due to a “doping matter”, her national athletics federation has confirmed.

Jason Smyth and Michael McKillop completed another superb double for Irish athletics by winning their 200m and 800m finals respectively at the IPC Athletics World Championships in Lyon.

Oscar Pistorius' management company has issued a statement announcing they have “no option” but to cancel all future races he had been contracted to compete in.

UK Athletics has today announced its formal support for West Ham's bid to move to the Olympic Stadium after the London 2012 Games.

DAVID GILLICK fulfilled two ambitions this year when he broke 45 seconds for 400m for the first time and then went on to make the final at the world championships in Berlin.

PAUL HESSION believes David Gillick has a superb chance of claiming a bronze medal at next month’s IAAF World Championships in Berlin.

RUGBY and soccer have already been welcomed into the renovated Croke Park and athletics may join them in the years to come, with stadium chiefs actively considering the possibility of hosting a Grand Prix event.

MO FARAH smashed the British record to win yesterday’s Bupa London 10,000 road race.

Portuguese stars Rui Pedro Silva and Ana Dulce Felix surprised the pre-race favourites when winning their respective titles at the Great Ireland Run in Dublin today.

ATHLETICS Ireland chiefs confirmed yesterday that the Chair of High Performance, Patsy McGonagle is under investigation — as revealed in yesterday’s Irish Examiner.

Athletes have been warned there will be nowhere to hide if they are using illegal drugs at the World Championship as organisers prepare to put the most “aggressive” of detection strategies into practice.

OLYMPIC 100 metres champion Justin Gatlin returned to form with victory in 9.96 seconds at the Rome Golden Gala yesterday.

Two Irish sportsmen last year tested positive for cocaine, a new report revealed today.

Victories by four of Britain’s genuine Olympic medal hopefuls helped atone for a bitterly disappointing display by the 100 metres sprinters in the Norwich Union London Grand Prix at a sweltering Crystal Palace this evening.

Paula Radcliffe has been named Runner of the Year for 2003 by Race Results Weekly, the leading USA wire service for distance running.

DERVAL O’ROURKE has set two national under-23 records in three meets so far this season, and should she maintain this type of improvement the Cork starlet could be faced with something of a dilemma come August when the World Student Games in Korea clash with the IAAF world championships in Paris.

Marion Jones threw down a challenge to her rivals as she prepares to launch her bid for a double sprint gold at the IAAF World Championships in Edmonton.

A pregnant Sonia O'Sullivan won the Tesco Women's Great North Run in Manchester on Sunday morning.