Soboleva shocked by doping decision

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, insisting the allegations made against them are “not realistic”.

Soboleva, the world indoor 1500m champion, was due to compete at the Games in Beijing but now looks set to miss out along with four other Russian Olympic hopes after athletics’ world governing body handed down the punishments yesterday.