Russian high jumper Chicherova suspended while doping probe underway

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has suspended Russia's 2012 Olympic high jump champion Anna Chicherova pending a probe into doping abuse during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the athlete told TASS on Friday.

"A letter has just come: the IAAF has suspended me starting today from all competitions for the time of the probe into the matter," Chicherova said on Friday.

The Olympic Committee of Russia confirmed in May it had received documents from the International Olympic Committee notifying that a recheck of the doping samples taken during the Beijing Olympics revealed positive A samples of 14 Russian athletes in three disciplines.

Chicherova, who won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing confirmed that her sample had tested positive for doping.

The doping sample B-1 from the Beijing Olympics was opened on June 8. The results of opening sample B-2 are not yet known.

Chicherova won the title of the Russian champion in Cheboksary on June 23.

Russian sport has been in the centre of doping-related scandals since last year. Starting this year, doping control in Russian sports has been exercised by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) strictly under the supervision of the British anti-doping agency (UKAD).

--IANS

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