Loughnane has new coach

OLIVE LOUGHNANE has changed coaches and will now train under Stephan Platzer, husband of Norway’s Olympic silver medallist from Sydney, Kjersti Platzer.

Ireland’s world championship silver medallist from Berlin last year had been advised by Montse Pastor, widow of top walks coach Manuel Mayor in the lead up to last year’s world championships. She split with Pastor during a controversy after allegations packages had been sent to Pastor’s home by Walter Viru, the Peruvian doctor linked with a cycling doping scandal.

It is understood neither the IAAF nor the Spanish Federation have a file on the matter but Olive Loughnane said she just could not hang around until the matter was resolved.