Devetzi Could be Stripped of Medal

The retired triple jumper Piyi Devetzi, 39, could be stripped of her Olympic silver and bronze medals after Greece’s track and field federation (Segas) said on Wednesday she had failed a doping test.

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“The international federation [the IAAF] informed Segas that Piyi Devetzi retested positive on a sample taken in 2007,” Segas said in a statement. “Following this development the federation has opened disciplinary proceedings against her.”

Devetzi retired in 2009 after the International Association of Athletics Federations banned her for two years for refusing to undergo a doping test while she was training in Ukraine.

She won an Olympic silver medal in Athens in 2004 and a bronze in Beijing four years later.

Devetzi also claimed a world championship bronze in Osaka, Japan in 2007.

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Farah Can Work with Salazar - UK Athletics

UK Athletics has said it has no concerns over Mo Farah’s continuing relationship with Alberto Salazar despite doping allegations made against the Cuban-born coach.

In June, UKA announced the details of its formal review into the relationship between Salazar and Farah after allegations made in a Panorama documentary. The programme, screened at the start of June, alleged that Farah’s training partner Galen Rupp had been taking the banned anabolic steroid testosterone since he was 16 under the supervision of Salazar.

The results of the investigation carried out by the Performance Oversight Group (POG) were published on Friday.

“In July we said that there was no evidence of any impropriety on the part of Mo Farah and no reason to lack confidence in his training programme. The Oversight Group have restated that view today. They have also found no reason to be concerned about the engagement of other British athletes and coaches with the Oregon Project,” read the statement.

“The review established that the vast majority of the endurance program’s interaction with the Oregon Project is in fact focussed on Mo Farah, with very little other UK Athletics related activity. Coaching and support for Mo Farah will remain the focus of our engagement with the Oregon Project.

“The Oversight Group has made a number of organisational and procedural recommendations which UK Athletics’ Performance Director Neil Black will take forward and implement over the coming months.

“Obviously since our review was set up USADA announced that it was conducting an investigation into allegations made in respect of staff within the Oregon Project. USADA is clearly the right body to look at anti-doping issues. They have asked us not to give any further details of our review until their work has concluded. We respect their request and are of course giving them our fullest support and co-operation.”

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Justin Gatlin Still Believes

Justin Gatlin believes he can still beat sprint rival Usain Bolt, despite two defeats by the Jamaican at the recent World Championships in Beijing.

The American, 33, has run personal bests for the 100m and 200m this season - and says he can still go faster.

"Each year in the last three years I just focus on being a better athlete and trying to improve and that has shown in my performances," he said.

Gatlin returns to action in Friday's Diamond League meeting in Brussels.

He will be crowned overall 100m champion if he finishes in the top three in Brussels, with 29-year-old Bolt - who was out of contention for the Diamond League crown - not competing. Gatlin also runs over 200m in Belgium.

Gatlin, who has twice served doping suspensions, finished behind the 11-time world and six-time Olympic champion in both sprint finals in Beijing last month.

But he added: "The margin between us is getting smaller and smaller.

"In 2014 I was in consistent 9.8 shape and this year I've been pretty much consistently in 9.7 shape. Next season I hope to do even better. It's just about growth and being there on the day to perform.

"It's not for me to say what you can and can't do at a particular age. I don't think I'm going to hit a limit like 'Uh! I'm 34 I can't learn anything anymore - I can't focus on being a better athlete'.

"I think a lot of athletes once they get into their mid-thirties they focus more on life and on having kids and a family - kind of more exiting out the game."

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Bolt Betters Gatlin in Beijing

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Usain Bolt has described his World Championships 100m final victory over Justin Gatlin as the "hardest race" of his career.

The Jamaican, 29, lived up to his billing as the saviour of athletics as he held off the challenge of the two-time drug cheat to win in 9.79 seconds.

Pre-race favourite Gatlin had to settle for silver in Beijing.

"Coming back from injury I've had a lot of doubters, it's been tough," Bolt said after winning a ninth world title.

He added: "For me to come to the championships and defend my title is a good feeling.

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"I definitely think this was my hardest race. I've been through a lot this season."

Bolt, back at the scene of his first triple Olympic triumph in 2008, called his Munich-based doctor, Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt, "a lifesaver".

He also insisted he did not feel the pressure to win for his sport, only to continue his own global domination.

And that looked on course to end after the semi-finals when Gatlin clocked 9.77secs, while Bolt almost tripped out of the blocks and had to fight all the way to the line to snatch the win.

"After the semi-finals my coach [Glen Mills] said, 'You are thinking about it too much. There's too much on your mind, all you have to do is remember is that you've done this a million times so just go out there and relax'. That's what I did."

There was a surreal moment before the final when 'the world's fastest piano player' was brought out to play a tune for 9.58 seconds - Bolt's world-record time.

The Jamaican's reaction was a shrug of bemusement as he showed no sign of nerves on the start line.

Instead, Gatlin was the one to feel the pressure. And the 33-year-old said he "gave away" victory.

"I stumbled in the last five metres, my arms were a little flailing," he said. "You have to come out and run and over the last five metres. It wasn't my day.

"Anyone who goes to the line to go against Usain has to be ready to go to work. In those five metres I let things get away from me. It cost me the race.

"I leaned a little too far forward and I got a little off balance."

Americans Trayvon Bromell and Canada's Andre de Grasse, who are both 20, shared bronze in 9.92secs.

Meanwhile Gatlin will have an opportunity for revenge when he and Bolt go head to head over 200m, with the final taking place on Friday.

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Nihao Atletico Madrid

A Chinese conglomerate has bought a 20% stake in the Spanish champions Atlético Madrid. The Dalian Wanda Group purchased the stake in the La Liga club for €45m (£34.4m).

A statement from the club read: “Wanda Group’s capital contribution in the club will allow Atlético to significantly shore up its balance sheet, as well as accelerate the growth of its brand globally.

“Both parties have agreed that the transaction will be implemented through a rights issue, in which all of the cash provided by the Wanda Group will be injected in the club, thus benefiting all existing shareholders.

“To this end, the Wanda Group has committed to subscribe a number of shares representing, after completion of the capital increase proposed which the club’s board of directors will immediately submit to the general shareholders’ meeting, a 20% equity share of Atlético Madrid through a €45m investment.

“Wanda Group is a leading Chinese conglomerate operating in sectors such as entertainment, hotels and real estate with an extensive footprint in its domestic market and strong growth in Europe and the US.

“Furthermore, Wanda Group has a deep knowledge and a long-standing presence in Chinese football, where it was the main sponsor of the Chinese Super League for several seasons.”

The Atlético president Enrique Cerezo, one of the club’s leading shareholders, was thrilled with Wanda’s decision to invest in the Madrid side.

“This is magnificent for our club,” he said. “That a company like Wanda becomes a shareholders of Atlético is fantastic for the team and for all of our fans.

“We are going to be able to do a lot more things with Wanda on board. Wanda’s investment will be very important for the economy of the club.”

As part of the agreement, Atlético and Wanda will work together towards opening three football schools in China. Atlético will also be invited to play in China every year and the Spanish club will provide special training programmes in Madrid for Chinese youngsters.

Atlético, coached by the Argentinian Diego Simeone since 2011, won their first La Liga title in 18 years last season and finished runners-up behind Real Madrid in the 2013-14 Champions League.

The Rojiblancos are third in the Primera Division standings at the halfway stage of the season.

Atlético have loaned their Uruguay forward Cristian Rodríguez to Parma until the end of the season.

Rodríguez helped Atlético win the Spanish league last season, but has fallen out of favour since playing for Uruguay at last summer’s World Cup.

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