Tag Archives: olympics

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Kenya’s former world 5000m and 10000m champion Vivian Cheruiyot will attempt another Olympic double at Rio in her final fling before retiring from the track. The 32-year old won both her specialities at the Kenyan Olympic trials in Eldoret, and said she was keen to …

Paris, France | AFP | Only pregnant women and people planning a family need fear Zika, disease experts said Wednesday after golfer Rory McIlroy became the latest athlete to withdraw from the Olympics over virus fears. The mosquito-borne virus, which can also be transmitted via sex, is thought to cause …

Lausanne, Switzerland | AFP | Deficiencies in the anti-doping systems in Russia and Kenya have created doubts about the presumption of innocence for athletes from both countries, the Olympics chief said Tuesday. “Because of the (World Anti-Doping Agency) non-compliance declaration of Kenya and Russia and the related substantial allegations, the …

Moscow, Russia | AFP | World athletics’ governing body IAAF has ruled to maintain Russia’s suspension, a top Russian athletics official confirmed Friday, TASS news agency reported. “I can confirm, the suspension is upheld,” Mikhail Butov, general secretary of the Russian athletics federation, told TASS. “I cannot give any more …

Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | There is a “very low risk” of the Zika virus spreading further internationally as a result of the Olympic Games in Brazil, the World Health Organization’s emergency committee on the disease said Tuesday. The statement came as worry mounted that the mosquito-borne virus, which has …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Olympic long jump champion Greg Rutherford has made the decision to freeze his sperm because of fears about the Zika virus at this year’s Games in Rio de Janeiro. Rutherford’s girlfriend, Susie Verrill, said the couple were increasingly worried about mosquito-born Zika, which can …

Lausanne, Switzerland | AFP | Professional boxers can compete at the upcoming Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, the sport’s governing body ruled in a landmark decision on Wednesday. But it is unlikely to see boxing’s biggest names enter the Olympic ring in Rio — for most professionals, like former …

Lausanne, Switzerland | AFP | Thirty-one athletes from 12 countries failed doping tests after new analysis of samples taken from the 2008 Beijing Olympics and could be banned from the Rio Games, the IOC said Tuesday. The 31, who took part in six different sports, were among 454 samples retested …

Kingston, Jamaica | AFP | Jamaican sprint superstar Usain Bolt is undergoing treatment in Germany for what his coach described as an “aggravated hamstring injury” following his first race of the season, local radio reported Monday. Glen Mills, Bolt’s coach, said the two-time Olympic 100m and 200m champion had tweaked …

Montreal, Canada | AFP | Kenya’s participation at the Olympic games was thrown into question on Thursday after the World Anti-Doping Agency declared the country’s drug-testing regime to be in breach of strict international standards. In a ruling announced during a WADA meeting in Montreal, officials said recent efforts by …