Athletics Weekly

I'm a little disturbed that, with the benefit of hindsight, that medals are being taken from 1 team with a drug cheat and given to another team who also numbered among their team a person who subsequently served a suspension for failing a drug cheat. I'm really surprised that someone like Roger Blac...

Just to understand the 'placings'. In the 200m the first three are Spearman with 58 points; Hession with 54 points and Bolt with 40 points. Does this mean that irrespective of what else happens tonight Spearman/Hession will be battling for 1st and 2nd and none of the other athletes have a chance of ...

1 Sanya Richards USA 48.94 20
2 Allyson Felix USA 49.83 16
3 Shericka Williams JAM 50.40 14
4 Christine Ohuruogu GBR 50.41 12
5 Novlene Williams-Mills JAM 50.69 10
6 Nicola Sanders GBR 51.02 8
7 Antonina Krivoshapka RUS 51.10 6
8 Amantle Montsho BOT 51.99 4

Maybe not, but it is a possibility. She finished 3rd of the athletes who finished, prior to the spaniard's DQ; there would have been a possibility of her being beaten also by Burka. I'm just putting this forward as a possibility - just saying there shouldn't be too much disappointment at losing out ...

Well done to Lisa. However, far from bemoaning missing gold by 1/100th be thankful she didn't finish 4th, which is where she would probably have finished if it weren't for 'the fall'.

Aside from GB winning bronze what other effects did USA's DQ have on the race. Could they (USA) have pushed Jamaica (or vice versa) to a WR?

USA disqualification upheld

http://www.usatf.org/news/view.aspx?DUI ... 1_15_40_40

Actually, nothing about a DQ has been mentioned on the race result on the IAAF web-site. Could this mean that the USA counter protest been successful or, perhaps, the web-site hasn't been updated?

While its nice to see athletes being funded as compensation for the amount and time they give to their sport, I am not so sure that funding or lack of it has much effect on perfomance, podium placing etc. The obvious example is Christine Ohuorogu. Gold medalist in Osaka 2007 without any funding/gold...

That's not my argument at all - there is no doubt that Paula is the best female marathon runner of all time and her WR will stand for many years to come. I haven't denied that - all I'm saying the the lack of an olympic medal is something which she herself might feel she needs to fully define her ca...

But at least Geb has olympic medals in other distances. It would be interesting to know Paula's take on it.

I agree - I hope she doesn't almost sacrifice the next three years for 2012 because she's got nothing to prove to anybody and it's not like an Olympic gold will fully define her career because everyone who is related to the sport knows what a tremendous athlete she is, even without an Olympic gold....

I know the Marion Jones situation disproves the theory that every athlete who tests negative should be considered clean. However, I think it is more unfair to brand athletes who by dint of hard work and application significantly improve their performances. Paula Radcliffe is the most outstanding cas...

Why do you think 'one or two' samples may be positive?

For me Bolts performances surpassed anything in the athletics area of the games - for 3 reasons- - his world records, particularly the 200, a record which many thought would survive for many years yet; - the positive publicity he has brought to our sport; and, - there appears now to be a consensus t...

Mike, The only alternative would have been to withdraw her from the race. I am absolutely certain that Kate reed would prefer to have run the trial than to not get to run at all. The process is there in black and white. . As a coach, I have to say I'm completely with Mike on this. BG, you make 2 po...

One thought struck me when people talk about support, funding etc and what difference do these systems make.? If we take a look at Christine Ohoruogo. Last year without any funding or support she won the world championship gold. This year with funding and support she also won gold. So where's the ad...

Javelin Sam wrote:missed tests over 2 years ago... and 18months ago she was basically cleared... hmmm Yanks

She was never 'basically cleared'. She was guilty of missing the tests and served her suspension in full. She was never found guilty or accused of anything else.

My total respects to CO - I honestly didn't think she could beat Richards.

Mazda wrote:Yes, but my sympathy wasn't with the 'fictional wariner' it was more about opposing dodgy tactics like that.

apologies for my earlier sarcasm

No problem, Mazda. I didn't take any offence. Enjoy the rest of the Games

Silver is the best I see for CO; I just can't see Richards beaten. Baddeley might scrape medal but could be just outside in 4th or 5th. Claxton would have to do a massive NR (like sub 12.70) to make the podium and I believe one of the HJers will take a medal.

I know - I'm agreeing with you. I was just pointing out that I didn't have any sympathy with your 'fictional' Jeremy Wariner.

I have long believed that, any athlete(s) beating the gun should only remain in the field so long as there are no other false starts. In other words, if athlete A false starts, the whole field would be on a yellow card. If athlete B then false starts, both B and A (the original transgressor) are DQ...

Isinbeyeva has won the PV and taken the WR to 5.05

Can you believe it! The most "slagged off" woman in British athletics has made her 2nd Olympic final. Well done Tasha I think the most slagged off woman in British athletics is Sarah Claxton, who also made a final today! Apart from a few exceptions, all of the Brits seem to be rising thei...

Devonish just missed out in 4th (20.43). May still get a fastest time (4)

I can't believe that anyone appeals because they claim they themselves have false started. That takes some neck. I'm glad the appeal was thrown out. Could it be that they tried a deliberate false start to put pressure on their opponents?

As I predicted above, I believe Sotherton has moved into the Bronze medal position 1. Fountain 4060 2. Dobrynska 3,996 3. Sotherton 3,938 4. Bogdanova 3,922 This should put her in with a good chance of silver, with the long jump and 800 to come. Okay there is also the javelin but this is not about o...

mmmm ... its do-able for Edgar, but it'll be tough

I honestly never realised she was that good. How come we (at least I) haven't heard of her before?