Russia doping ban is unfair on clean athletes: Bekele

New Delhi, November 26 

One of the world’s greatest ever distance runners, Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele today said his heart goes out for the innocent athletes of Russia who have been plunged into uncertainty after IAAF banned the country over doping controversy.

“As a sportsman, I feel for the athletes of Russia. There are many clean athletes, their career will get damaged. I think it is not fair to ban a country. People who have cheated should be banned. It is a big damage for the innocent athletes,” said the world and Olympics record holder in 5,000 and 10,000 meters.

Bekele has been named the event ambassador of the 8th Delhi Half Marathon.

Russian athletes have been put in doldrums as they might not be able to compete in next year’s Olympic Games in Rio, following International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) decision to ban the country from competitions over accusations of “state-sponsored” doping.

Asked about one of his competitors, British distance runner Mo Farah, 32, who is a gold medallist in the 5000m and 10,000m at the 2012 Olympics and the 2015 World Championships, Bekele said he is a great athlete.

“He is top of the results now. What he did is great but what he will do in future, we have to wait and see. We expect a new generation of athletes to come into the sport,” said Bekele, who had beaten Farah by just one second at the 2013 Great Ireland Run.

Bekele, who won the 2004 Olympics title in 10,000m, has been hampered by injury over the past five years when in February 2010 he ruptured a calf muscle. He then suffered from a knee injury that delayed his comeback even further. The 33-year-old competed at the 2012 London Olympic and ran within the leading group for the whole race, before finishing fourth.

Asked if he will retire after next year’s Olympics, he said: “I want to enjoy the sport more, I want to participate in the Olympics and World Championship in future. Injury has been a problem but I won’t give up and hopefully make a comeback.” — PTI

Russia accepts IAAF ban 

Monaco: The Russian athletics federation has accepted its ban from the sport in the wake of widespread doping revelations, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) said on Thursday. The IAAF Council is meeting in Monaco, with the crisis surrounding doping and connected corruption the number one item on the agenda. “IAAF Council was today informed that written confirmation had been received yesterday from ARAF (All Russia Athletics Federation) accepting their full suspension without requesting a hearing as was their constitutional right,” the IAAF said in a statement. One of the issues the Council is discussing on Thursday is the establishment of a “road map” for the Russian federation and its anti-doping authorities to follow with a view to re-instatement in time to take part in next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. — Reuters