2 Kenyan runners test positive for doping at worlds
BEIJING (AP) — Two Kenyan runners have tested positive for doping at the world championships and have been provisionally suspended.
Joyce Zakary, a 400-meter runner, and hurdler Koki Manunga tested positive for unspecified substances in targeted tests after competing in Beijing, the IAAF said Wednesday.
Zakary was second in her opening heat on Monday, running a national record of 50.71 seconds in the 400. But the 29-year-old Kenyan did not run in the semifinals a day later despite having the eighth best qualifying time.
Manunga ran in the opening heats of the 400 hurdles on Sunday and finished sixth of seven, failing to reach the semifinals.
The Kenyans have 13 athletes currently serving doping suspensions.
The sport has been hit by doping allegations in recent weeks, with German broadcaster ARD and The Sunday Times newspaper in Britain reporting that they had obtained access to 12,000 suspicious blood tests involving 5,000 athletes.
The report says Kenya had 18 medals won by athletes under suspicion over more than a decade.
At this year's world championships, Kenya was leading the medal standings after four days with four golds and nine overall. Some of those medals were won by veterans, including Ezekiel Kemboi and David Rudisha, who have been tested regularly for years.
Ankle injury not to be blamed, says Walcott
BEIJING—Reigning Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott is suggesting that an ankle injury is not to be blamed for his elimination from the Javelin event at the World Championships on Monday.
Walcott was eliminated after placing 26th out of 33 competitors, managing only two legal throws, 75.16 metres and 76.83, his best effort.
“I just went out there, tried to perform well but it was just a bad competition,” said the Trinidadian athlete who set three new records for 2015.
“No other explanation, just a bad competition. Of course, I expected better throws but I do not know what was going on.”
Walcott, 22, entered the championships as one of the pre-event favourites with a personal and season best of 90.16m. However he has been battling an ankle injury which he said did not hamper his performance.
“The distances were way off and you can see the results,” he said. “There was a lack of competition for me since my ankle injury but my ankle held up good today and I am thanking God for that. But I would have to say it was a bad competition because I was really out of it”. Walcott says he is considering ending his season to allow his ankle injury to completely heal in time for the next season.
“So I just have to go back and continue working on it because I do not want to start back training with any problems. I think I am going to call the season there, and continue working on my ankle,” said Walcott. (CMC)