Top Russians get Olympic ban.
The spectre of drugs has again raised it`s ugly head with the news that 7 Russian athletes 5 of whom were bound for Beijing and the Olympics due to start in little over a week have been suspended provisionally by the IAAF.
Among the athletes banned is Tatyana Tomashova the former World 1500 metre champion in 2003 and 2005 who also won silver in Athens four years ago and the reigning indoor 1500 metre champion Yelena Soboleva.
The other Athletes alleged to be involved are distance runner Yulia Fomenko, Darya Pischchalnikova (Discus) and hammer thrower Gulfiya Khanafeyva (the latter twos suspension will bring relief to thousands of commentators worldwide!).
Seriously though the news could not have come at a worse time for the IOC as they had earlier to announce the suspension of a member of the Jamaican athletics squad as well as field uncomfortable questions over China`s humans rights record and the increasing problem the athletes have to face over the pollution issue.
