There was potentially good news for Robert Heffernan yesterday when the IAAF confirmed they have filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland against the decisions rendered by RUSADA in the cases of six Russian athletes which, if successful, would see the Corkman land Olympic bronze from London 2012.

Olive Loughnane looks set to be awarded the gold medal for the 20km race walk from the 2009 World Championships in Berlin after Russia’s Olga Kaniskina was yesterday banned by the Russian Anti-doping Agency for an anti-doping rule violation.

Rob Heffernan showed remarkable strength to finish in fourth place in this morning's 50km walk at the European Championships, just three days after claiming fourth in the 20km walk.

Ireland’s Robert Heffernan today set a new national record as he finished fourth for the second time in four days in the European Championships in Barcelona.