Ireland’s Olympic team manager yesterday rejected any association or coaching arrangement between Irish Olympic race walker, Robert Heffernan, and former Olympic silver medallist, Francisco ‘Paco’ Fernandez, who is serving a ban for his involvement in a drugs scandal in Spain.

OLIVE LOUGHNANE was barely off the plane from Beijing last year when she set about planning her onslaught on a medal at this year’s world championships in Berlin.

EILEEN O’KEEFFE has eased fears over her knee injury, throwing 5kg and 7kg hammers at the Irish training camp in Matsue, according to Irish team manager, Patsy McGonagle.