Radcliffe Vindicated by IAAF & UKAD

Paula Radcliffe says she is relieved to have been vindicated after the IAAF and the UK Anti-Doping agency (UKAD) found her innocent of blood doping.

After media reports alleged widespread blood doping she claimed she had been implicated by a parliamentary hearing, and publicly denied cheating.

On Friday, the IAAF said the allegations were "a gross misinterpretation of raw data".

Radcliffe told the BBC: "It's a relief. It should never have come to this."

She added: "The reason I spoke out was to protect myself and protect my name. It was important that I took a stand knowing that there were other innocent athletes out there."

Then on Sky Sports Radcliffe said: "Obviously there's been damage done to my reputation and to the reputation of the sport as well.

"In the climate of things maybe people think it's not important right now, but it's important to me and the attacks made on my integrity and my credibility."

SO why did the IAAF launch an investigation.

Back in the summer The Sunday Times and German TV station ARD made allegations about doping in athletics, having obtained the results of 12,000 blood tests from 5,000 athletes taken between 2001 and 2012.

In the wake of their reports, and subsequent comments made at a parliamentary hearing, Radcliffe, who had not been named, felt forced to go public to "categorically" deny ever blood doping.

There was also a suggestion the IAAF had not acted on suspicious tests, but on Friday athletics' world governing body dismissed claims it had ignored evidence of cheating, and completely exonerated Radcliffe.

It said she had been "accused of blood doping based on the gross misinterpretation of raw and incomplete data", and that "there are clearly plausible explanations for the values in her profile that are entirely innocent".

Speaking in September, Paula Radcliffe denies cheating

It added it could not "sit idly by while public confidence in its willingness to protect the integrity of its sport is undermined by allegations of inaction or incompetence that are based on bad scientific and legal argument".

UK Anti-Doping said that, having reviewed the data on Radcliffe that the IAAF had shared with UKAD, it had concluded "there is no case to answer".

UKAD added: "The data does not provide any evidence that any anti-doping rule violation proceedings should be brought."

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Radcliffe Reacts to Jesse Norman

Paula Radcliffe has "categorically" denied any form of cheating in a statement following questions raised during a parliamentary select committee "effectively implicated" her in the Sunday Times' allegations of blood doping in athletics.

Jesse Norman MP suggested winners and medallists at the London Marathon and "potentially British athletes" were under suspicion.

Radcliffe was not specifically named.

But she is a three-time London Marathon winner and the only British athlete since 1996 to triumph at the event.

Following the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee hearing, she issued a statement saying she was "devastated" her name had been "linked to these wide-ranging accusations".

The Sunday Times published data from 5,000 athletes, which it had reviewed by scientists and said revealed an "extraordinary extent of cheating".

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) called the allegations "sensationalist and confusing" and denied it had failed in its duty to carry out effective blood testing.

Radcliffe said she had the "greatest respect" for people "responsibly trying to uncover cheating", but added she was "profoundly disappointed that the cloak of parliamentary privilege" had been used to tarnish her reputation, without recourse.

She said: "I have campaigned long and hard throughout my career for a clean sport. I have publicly condemned cheats and those who aid them. These accusations threaten to undermine all I have stood and competed for, as well as my hard-earned reputation.

"By linking me to allegations of cheating, damage done to my name and reputation can never be fully repaired, no matter how untrue I know them to be."

Radcliffe, who also won the New York Marathon three times and the Chicago Marathon, retired from competitive athletics this year following a persistent foot injury.

She said she "wrestled long and hard with a desire to speak out" following the initial publication of the joint Sunday Times and ARD/WDR investigation of 12,000 blood tests from 5,000 athletes between 2001 and 2012.

She said she had wanted to "fully explain any fluctuations" in her blood data, but was advised she would risk her name being connected with "false allegations".

"As a result of today's parliamentary hearing I can no longer maintain my silence," she added.

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UK Athletics in Reduced Funding

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UK Athletics will announce on Monday a reduced group of athletes who will receive lottery funding for next season, with the emphasis on those with major championship medal potential over the next four years.

The governing body have narrowed the focus for a place on their World Class Performance Programme from athletes with top-eight potential to those who are top-three contenders.

That will mean fewer podium-level funded athletes, the highest level of lottery support, which runs from around £13,000 to £26,000 and is in addition to non-financial help like access to coaches, facilities, medical staff and training camps.

Athletes who failed to achieve the targets set out for them at either the 2011 World Championships or this summer's Olympics or those not considered medal contenders at the Rio Games in 2016 could be cut.

That could mean experienced names like world marathon record holder Paula Radcliffe and former world 800 metres bronze medallist Jenny Meadows missing out.

Radcliffe, who is 39, missed London 2012 through injury and did not compete either at the World Championships in Daegu the previous summer.

Meadows, 31, was not selected for the Olympics and missed the entire 2012 season due to injury, while she failed to make the final in Daegu.

The likes of Commonwealth 1500 metres bronze medallist Stephanie Twell, former European 800m silver medallist Michael Rimmer, both of whom have been plagued by terrible problems, and 400m runner Martyn Rooney could also be under threat.

So too could be members of the men's and women's relay teams, including the likes of sprinters Marlon Devonish, Christian Malcolm and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey.

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Heartbreak for Radcliffe at London 2012

UK Athletics have confirmed Paula Radcliffe has been ruled out of the women's marathon at London 2012 due to "medical reasons".

Radcliffe had targeted gold since London won the right to host the 2012 Games and made amends for her showings in 2004 and 2008.

The three-time New York City marathon winner failed to finish the 2004 Athens marathon and was 23rd in Beijing in 2008.

Radcliffe has expressed her sadness at not being able to compete this summer, stating the sport demands the body to be at its very best.

"From the day when it was announced that London had won the bid, taking part and performing well in the London Olympic Games has been a major goal in my life," commented Radcliffe.

"The goal of a fifth Olympics in my home country, what better? The chance to make amends to myself for bitter disappointments at the previous two Olympics.

"Through a lot of tough times it has kept me fighting, motivated and focused. That is why it hurts so much to finally admit to myself that it isn't going to happen.

"My sport is a beautiful sport, it gives so much fun and enjoyment, I believe it helps me to be a better person, and I have been very fortunate to experience some great success and have so many beautiful and happy memories.

"However, the downside is that it can break your heart and spirit many times over when your body is simply unable to match what your heart and brain want it to do.

"Sadly mine is not a career or a hobby where mind over matter can work when your body is hurt, nor where giving less than your best each day can ever work."

Disappointing

Athletics team leader Charles van Commenee feels for Radcliffe, stating she remains one of the sport's greatest ever runners.

"This is obviously a disappointing day for Paula and our sport, but it was important to her that if she made the start line it would be in the best possible shape," said Van Commenee.

"It wasn't meant to be and she has taken the right decision to withdraw at this stage.

"I think it is important that we don't look at Paula's career in Olympic cycles. She is undoubtedly one of the greatest female distance runners of all times and still holds the marathon world record.

"When we look back at her career it should be in the context of what she has achieved and not what she hasn't. I wish her all the very best for her recovery."

Radcliffe Suffers Olympics Injury Scare

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Paula Radcliffe says an injury scare has left her in "a bit of a panic", but she is confident of being fit for the London Olympics.

The marathon runner will see a sports injury specialist in Germany about her left foot, which has hampered her in training.

Painkilling injections have also had little affect on the 38-year-old.

"I've got time for it to get sorted out," she said. "Everybody has these niggles coming in."

The women's world record holder had surgery in 2009 in an effort to resolve her foot problem. However, the issue has flared up again.

"Training has gone really well through May and June," she said. "Up until now, I've been really pleased with how things are going.

"My old osteoarthritic foot has just decided to flare up this week which has given me a bit of a panic, but I'm trying to stay calm and stay on top of that.

"I've been getting treatment all the time on it and I am going straight away from here to get more treatment on it now."

Radcliffe has battled for form and fitness in the build-up to London 2012.

Last September, she ran her first marathon since the birth of her second child in 2009, hitting the Olympic qualifying mark with a time of two hours 23 minutes and 46 seconds.

That prompted lifelong friend and fellow distance runner Liz Yelling to comment that Radcliffe will not race in London if she is not 100% fit.

Radcliffe set the women's world record for the marathon in 2003 with a time of 2:15:25.

However, she has never won an Olympic medal.

She failed to finish both the marathon and 10,000m at the Athens Games in 2004. Then, following an injury to her left leg, she finished the marathon down in 23rd place at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.