Soboleva shocked at ban

RUSSIAN 1500 metres runner Yelena Soboleva has hit out at the IAAF’s decision to suspend her and six team-mates for doping offences ahead of the Olympic Games.

Soboleva, the world indoor 1500m champion, insists the allegations are “not realistic”. She was due to compete in Beijing but looks set to miss out along with four other Russian Olympic hopes after athletics’ governing body handed down the punishments on Thursday.

Discus thrower Darya Pishchalnikova, hammer thrower Gulfiya Khanafeyeva and distance runners Tatyana Tomashova and Yulia Fomenko were all set for Beijing, while Svetlana Cherkasova and Olga Yegorova were also implicated.