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      Christian Coleman OUT of next year’s Tokyo Olympics as world’s fastest man receives two-year suspension

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      ATHLETICS superstar Christian Coleman will MISS next summer’s Tokyo Olympics after he was handed a two-year ban for missing drugs tests.
      In a damaging day for the sport, the world’s fastest man is ineligible to compete in track-and-field events until May 13, 2022, meaning he will not take part in the rescheduled Games in Japan.

      Christian Coleman will MISS the Tokyo Olympics after a two-year ban was upheldCredit: AP:Associated Press

      Coleman’s agent, Emanuel Hudson of HSInternational Sports Management, said: “The decision of the Disciplinary Tribunal established under the World Athletics rules is unfortunate and will be immediately appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
      “Mr Coleman has nothing further to say until such time as the matter can be heard in the Court of jurisdiction.”
      The Atlanta-born athlete has a history of missing tests, having escaped a ban on a technicality in 2019 before winning gold at the Doha Athletics World Championships.
      The AIU charged Coleman, 24, in June 2020 for three whereabouts failures within a 12-month period.

      One related to a missed test on January 16, 2019, which he did not contest. But Coleman did dispute the filing failure on April 26, 2019 and the missed test on December 9, 2019.
      For the first one, it was claimed the athlete only updated his whereabouts information – he was training in the State of Iowa – after a doping officer attended his home residence in Lexington, Kentucky, and then called his mobile.
      Last December, two drug-busters reportedly “rang the bell and knocked loudly” on Coleman’s apartment door for over an hour – while the runner was out Christmas shopping nearby.
      The AIU rejected Coleman’s “impossible” explanation of events that he had returned home briefly during the allocated one-hour time period, ate a purchased chipotle, watched the start of a Monday night NFL game, and then went out again.

      The AIU say receipts showing he had bought 16 items from Walmart disproved his claims he had popped home.
      At the time of his provisional suspension, Coleman had complained that the AIU’s doping control officers had not called him on that night weeks before Christmas.
      The AIU said in its judgement that doping control officers were not required to phone athletes.

      The AIU report said: “The consequences for athletes who are subject to three missed tests are draconian.
      “But rather than learn from his experience with USADA, the athlete’s attitude to his obligations can fairly be described as entirely careless, perhaps even reckless.
      “We understand that it is very difficult for a young man, blessed with the prodigious talent which the athlete obviously has, to find himself suddenly at the centre of the public gaze.
      “But success of this nature, and the financial rewards that follow, also give rise to responsibilities that must be taken seriously and observed.”
      Coleman, who maintains his innonence, has never failed a drugs test and the report added that there is no evidence that he has doped during his career.
      It added: “For the avoidance of doubt, there is no suggestion that the athlete has ever taken any prohibited substance and we wish to make that clear at the outset.”
      According to emails sent by his lawyer to USA Today, it is understood Coleman will appeal the ban imposed by the Athletics Integrity Unit through the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
      But unless he wins that case he will sit out the Olympics next summer, opening the door for a potential British runner to win a medal.

      Christian Coleman wins mens 100m final at the World Athletics Championships with a time of 9.76 seconds More

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      Seb Coe will back any athlete that takes a knee at Tokyo Olympics in support of Black Lives Matter movement

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      SEB COE would support any athlete who takes a knee on the Tokyo Olympics podium.
      Pressure is mounting on the IOC to change its Rule 50 which prohibits any form of demonstration at the Games.

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      Seb Coe is the highest-profile sports figure to call on the IOC to change its no-protest ruleCredit: Rex Features

      It is thought many stars might use the global platform to promote the Black Lives Matter movement next summer.
      Global Athlete and the BOA’s Athletes’ Commission have also called on Olympics chiefs to allow human-rights activism next year.
      And now Coe, in his capacity as the World Athletics president, has backed anybody thinking of protesting.
      Speaking on a trip to the Japanese capital and inspection of the Olympic national stadium, Coe said:

      “I’ve been very clear, if an athlete wishes to take a knee on a podium, then I am supportive of that.
      “Athletes are a part of the world and they want to reflect the world they live in. For me, that is perfectly acceptable.”
      Coe, who only became an IOC member in July, is the highest-profile administrator to demand a change.
      His big pal, Daley Thompson, told SunSport in June that British athletes should be allowed to take a knee against racism in Tokyo.

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      Colin Kaepernick, formerly of San Francisco 49ers, took a knee in 2016 to protest against police brutality and racial inequalityCredit: AP:Associated Press

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      Two-time Olympic heptathlon champ Thompson, 62, said: “Some athletes will clearly feel strongly enough to want to take a knee.
      “There should be, whether it’s on the podium or not, a forum for them to stand up and be counted if they want to.
      “At the same time, if people don’t want to, because they’re more interested in getting on with what they want to do, then there are entitled to do that, too.
      “It’s an important cause. All lives matter. Nobody, whether you’re white, black, any nationality, you don’t deserve to be killed for the colour of your skin or for simple prejudice.
      “I think the IOC will try and curry favour with sponsors and allow the athletes some degree of choice in the matter.”

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      George Gandy dead at 80: Athletics legend who coached Seb Coe to three world records in 41 days suffers heart attack

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      SEB COE saluted his ex-coach George Gandy, who has died aged 80 after a heart attack following minor surgery.
      Newcastle-born Gandy was a prolific endurance running coach best known for his work with athletes at Loughborough University since 1971.

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      Seb Coe has hailed athletics legend George Gandy (right) after he passed away aged 80Credit: Rex Features

      He acted as national endurance coach from 1992-98 and 2009-13 and his experience spanned 10 Olympics and five Commonwealth Games.
      Coe, an economics and social history student, worked with him in the mid-1970s and developed world-class speed and strength thanks to Gandy’s circuit training sessions.
      Coe, 64, a two-time Olympic 1500m champion, said: “George was an exceptional person and a world-class coach – for both I owe him an inestimable gratitude.
      “He has enhanced, and in many cases changed, the lives of so many young people, including mine. We have all suffered a grievous loss.”

      Gandy was also linked to athletes Jon Brown, Jack Buckner, Lisa Dobriskey, Dave Moorcroft, Steve Backley and Paula Radcliffe.
      On working with Coe at Loughborough University, Gandy previously told Athletics Weekly: “Seb arrived on campus in 1975 to study economics and politics. 
      “He had class stamped all over him with PBs of 1:53 and 3:45 and by 1977 I knew we had a potential world beater on our hands.”
      On the start of his own athletics career at St Mary’s College in south London, Gandy added: “While there (St Mary’s) I became cross-country and athletics captain and I think that was the first time I got into telling other people what to do and how to do it. 

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      “I gained a variety of coaching awards and in my final year at St Mary’s I was a member of the British Milers’ Club as a runner. They knew I was going back to the North East to teach. 
      “Somebody got in touch with me and asked if I would make contact with two young lads in South Shields with a view to continue to coach them when I went back there, so I did that. 
      “That was probably the beginning of it for me.”

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      UK may BOYCOTT Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022 over alleged human rights abuses, admits Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab

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      THE UK Government has not ruled out a potential Team GB boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
      China has been accused of human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang region.

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      Dominic Raab has refused to rule out boycotting the 2022 Winter OlympicsCredit: Reuters

      Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has suggested Britain might not attend the Games in February 2022 if evidence of mass oppression of ethnic communities continues.
      Speaking to the Foreign Affairs Committee, Raab said: “Generally speaking my instinct is to separate sport from diplomacy and politics.
      “But there comes a point where that may not be possible.
      “I’d say let’s gather the evidence, let’s work with our international partners, let’s consider in the round what further action we need to take.”

      Amnesty International claim “up to one million Uyghurs, Kazakhs and other ethnic minority people” have been sent to internment camps in the Xinjiang area and subjected to intrusive surveillance, arbitrary detention and forced indoctrination.
      Raab added: “We have led the charge in the UN Human Rights Council.
      “Put it this way in the UK our concern can only be growing about the reports of what is happening in Xinjiang.

      Given the appalling human rights abuses against the #Uyghur people (a genocide), I very much welcome the Foreign Secretary’s recognition of importance of not ruling out a boycott of the Olympics in Beijing in 2022 in response to my question today at the Foreign Affairs Committee. https://t.co/as8Sf7mtm3
      — Alicia Kearns MP for Rutland and Melton (@aliciakearns) October 6, 2020

      “We want to work very closely with our international partners to give the most powerful message, whether it is in the UN or applying sanctions.

      “I have made it clear that there is evidence of serious and egregious human rights violations.
      “The more the international community addresses its mind to it, the more I think we do need to look very carefully to what action we take.
      “The concerns of what is happening to the Uyghurs — the detention, the mistreatment, the forced sterilisation — is something we cannot just turn away from. We want to gather the evidence carefully.”
      Alicia Keans, Conservative MP for Rutland and Melton, said: “Given the appalling human rights abuses against the Uyghur people (a genocide), I very much welcome the Foreign Secretary’s recognition of importance of not ruling out a boycott of the Olympics in Beijing in 2022 in response to my question today at the Foreign Affairs Committee.”
      The BOA would not respond to Raab’s comments but stressed they are completely independent from government interference.
      Britain has sent athletes to every summer and winter Olympics, including the 1980 Moscow Games which were boycotted by the United States.

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      Lizzy Yarnold was GB’s only gold medalist in 2018Credit: Getty Images – Getty

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      Great Britain sent 58 athletes to the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
      They won five medals in total, ranking 19th in the overall table.
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      Eileen Noble, 85, braves torrential rain to become oldest woman to complete 2020 London Marathon despite the pandemic

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      AN 85-year-old woman was one of thousands who braved torrential rain to take part in the 40th London marathon.
      Despite the pandemic, thousands of runners took part across the nation – tracking their time and distance with a specially designed app.

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      Eileen Noble completed the 2020 London Marathon at the age of 85Credit: Dan Jones images/THESUN

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      The 85-year-old clocked a time of eight hours and four minute in the virtual raceCredit: Dan Jones images/THESUN

      Elite runners ran 19.8 laps of St James Park in West London, in a “controlled secure biosphere”.
      Eileen Noble, 85, was the oldest female athlete taking part in Sunday’s virtual marathon.
      This was Eileen’s 20th time tackling the 26.2mile course and she finished it in a soggy eight hours and four minutes. 
      Speaking to The Sun at the halfway point at the Cutty Sark in South East London on Sunday morning, she said: “I’m absolutely freezing, I think I’ll be walking most of the way home.

      “I can’t wait to have a hot shower.”
      Her daughter Imelda, 47, was waiting for her at the Cutty Sark with water and Jelly Babies.
      A group of spectators nearby sang “Come on Eileen” as she ran past.
      It is thought a whopping 45,000 participants logged their progress on an app to make their time official and secure a medal.

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      The soggy 2020 race was Eileen’s 20th marathon finishCredit: Dan Jones images/THESUN

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      Ahead of the race, running fan Eileen told The Sun: “I started running in my early 50s in 1986.
      “I’d been sporty at school but running around a track never appealed.
      “I’d go with my friend Shirley and we’d chat. I liked the camaraderie and still do, I train with friends when I can.”
      She joked that she was worried about getting lost on the way, adding: “I did a half marathon in March and I kept getting lost.
      “The route wasn’t very obvious and there weren’t many people doing i.
      “I found myself on my own and I thought I hope I’m still going the right way.
      “At least once I get on the Thames Path I can’t get lost.”

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      Eileen joked she couldn’t wait to jump into ahot shower after finishing the race in the freezing coldCredit: Dan Jones images/THESUN
      Ken Jones, 87, is the oldest man taking part in the race from his home in Strabane, Northern Ireland. 
      He said the weather looked “the worst ever” as he prepared to set off on Sunday morning.
      Martin Yelling, the official coach of the Virgin Money London Marathon, told runners in a Facebook Live event: “It may not be what we had in mind but it’s a wonderful way to experience running a marathon.”
      Event director Hugh Brasher said: “It was about inclusivity, removing the pressure that people can feel on event day.”
      The Met Office said most runners in the UK, especially those in the south, would be facing “a bit of a wet one” this year.
      But the rain didn’t dampen spirits with runners still donning silly costumes as they ran the 26.2 miles.
      Russ Brookes in Gloucester dressed up as a T Rex as he ran to raise money for Winton’s Wish – a charity for bereaved children.
      At the elite track in St James’ Park Kenyan Kosgei defended her title and cruised to a victory in the women’s race, overcoming her rivals in relentless rain to triumph in two hours, 18 minutes and 58 seconds. 
      And Shura Kitata beat favourite Ethiopian favourite Eliud Kipchoge to claim victory in the mens race in two hours five minutes and 41 seconds.

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      How Eliud Kipchoge’s controversial Nike shoes could win London Marathon for Kenyan after outrage over design

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      ELIUD KIPCHOGE is set to wear his controversial Nike shoes in an official race for the first time at Sunday’s London Marathon.
      The Kenyan’s Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT% trainers have sparked a mass backlash from fellow racers.

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      Eliud Kipchoge will wear his controversial Nike trainers at this weekend’s London MarathonCredit: AFP or licensors

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      The Nike trainers are aid to help athletes run faster, with some likening them to dopingCredit: Nike

      The Nike shoes are designed to help the athlete out by providing a ‘four per cent boost in running economy’ compared to other trainers.
      And many have claimed the help from the trainers is essentially ‘doping’.
      Kipchoge, 35, wore the Nikes as he ran a sub-two-hour marathon in Vienna last October.
      That race was under artificial, unofficial circumstances, with the main aim to get Kipchoge across the line in under two hours.

      The Kenyan was given a group of 30 pace-setters and a car to follow – prohibited by World Athletics (formerly IAAF).
      Kipchoge clocked a time of 1:59.40 around the 26.2mile course, with Nike calling it “an extraordinary achievement years in the making.”
      After the race, when quizzed about the controversial trainers, Kipchoge replied: “We live in the 21st century and we need to accept change.
      “Secondly, development goes hand-in-hand with technology. The shoe is good.

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      “We should accept technology and marry technology.
      “It’s business. It’s good for Nike to be far higher than other companies as far as technology is concerned.”
      Kipchoge will now wear the Nike Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT% trainers in Sunday’s London Marathon.
      Earlier this year, World Athletics deemed the shoes legal.
      The governing body banned shoes with soles thicker than 40mm and/or more than one plate to enhance spring.
      Kipchoge’s Alphafly trainers have a sole of 39.5mm thick – just 0.5mm within the ‘passable’ limit.
      Meanwhile, Kipchoge’s biggest rival, Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele, has revealed he will NOT wear the shoe after he believed it caused him injuries.
      Bekele will revert back to a tried-and-tested, older pair for the London Marathon.
      Due to coronavirus, athletes will ditch the well-known route around the capital and instead run 19 laps of St James’ Park, finishing down the iconic Mall stretch.
      There will also be no amateur race in the 2020 edition.

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      London Marathon route: Covid-19 forces organisers to change course with 19 laps of St James’ Park and NO amateur race

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      LONDON MARATHON organisers have revealed the new course that runners will take to in Sunday’s rescheduled race.
      The much-beloved event will be elite-only this year for its 40th edition, with coronavirus regulations preventing over 45,000 participants from taking to the capital’s streets.

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      The route of the 2020 London Marathon

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      The race will still finish at The Mall as is traditionalCredit: AFP or licensors

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      Preparations for hosting the event are well underwayCredit: AP:Associated Press

      Superstars such as Eliud Kipchoge and Brigid Kosgei will instead complete 19 laps of St James’ Park within a ‘secure biosphere’.
      A stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace, athletes will begin by turning onto Horse Guards Road.
      Their clockwise loop will then take them onto Birdcage Walk, before meandering onto Spur Road.
      As is traditional, the race will still finish on The Mall, by Marlborough House Gardens.

      Public spectators will not be able to watch the race in person, although the BBC will broadcast eight hours of coverage for fans to consume at home.
      Most of St James’ Park itself will remain largely accessible to members of the public, but with no public viewing points.
      Kipchoge, 35, is favourite to win the men’s event, originally scheduled for March, as he squares off with Kenenisa Bekele.
      Meanwhile Kosgei, 26, headlines the women’s field.

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      The event is likely to take place in miserable, wet conditionsCredit: AP:Associated Press

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      Eliud Kipchoge is in the frame to win the men’s raceCredit: Getty – Pool

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      Daniel Romanchuk and Manuela Schar will also have the opportunity to defend their hard-earned wheelchair titles.
      Charities are expected to lose out on up to £70million from the event being athletes-only.
      Although more than 40,000 keen runners have signed up to compete ‘virtually’ – either from home on a treadmill or on a different course of their choice.
      The event will also honour murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence at the lap-18 mark – the age he was when he was killed in an unprovoked racist attack in April 1993.

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      Brigid Kosgei, 2019 champion, is ready to defend her titleCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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      Triathlete stops on finish line to let rival beat him after he heads wrong way in stunning act of sportsmanship

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      SPANISH athlete Diego Mentrida surrendered his spot on the podium as he allowed James Teagle to pass him on the finish line at the Santander Triathlon.
      In one of the most stunning acts of sportsmanship, Mentrida spotted Teagle taking a wrong turn near the end of the race in Spain.

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      James Teagle took a wrong turn on the final corner of the Santander TriahtlonCredit: Twitter / @GoodNewsCorres1

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      Brit star Teagle ended up inside a fenced off area when he was in third placeCredit: Twitter / @GoodNewsCorres1

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      Diego Mentrida waited for Teagle at the finish to let him go back in frontCredit: Twitter / @GoodNewsCorres1

      Teagle ran towards a group of spectators inside a fenced off area on the last corner, but the 21-year-old was quick to spot his mistake.
      He then stopped just short of the finish line to allow Teagle to come home in third place – much to the shock of the Brit star who shook his hand in disbelief.
      Speaking to Eurosport after the race, Mentrida stated that it wouldn’t have been fair of him to finish in front of Teagle.
      He said: “When I saw that he had missed the route, I just stopped.

      “James deserved this medal. He didn’t notice the signs or they were misaligned.
      MEN-KIND
      “I do not know, but the second time I would have acted the same.”
      The sporting world was quick to praise Mentrida, as Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian tweeted: “The real values of SPORT in a single gesture.
      “James Teagle got confused on the last corner and was passed by Diego Mentrida who did this… #Respect#FairPlay.”

      Another commented: “That is sportsmanship personified.”
      A third added: “You could argue that the British runner should’ve known the course as a professional.

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      Teagle shook Mentrida’s hand in disbelief at his classy act of sportsmanshipCredit: Twitter / @GoodNewsCorres1

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      Teagle finished the race on the podium after coming home in thirdCredit: Twitter / @GoodNewsCorres1
      “But that’s moot. This is sportsmanship, its about doing the right thing when you don’t have to.”
      One simply stated: “Fourth in place, first in life. My kind of human right there.”
      Meanwhile another quipped: “Now, that’s a dude I’d want my daughter marrying. Honorable man before competitor.”

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