http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/?service=Rss http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/semenya-to-keep-title-as-tests-stay-under-wraps-1823928.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/semenya-to-keep-title-as-tests-stay-under-wraps-1823928.html ]]> <p>The Sport and Recreation department of the South African Government announced yesterday that Caster Semenya would be allowed to keep the 800 metres gold medal she won at the athletics World Championships in Berlin in August, and also the $60,000 (£36,000) in prize-money that she earned. The $64,000 question remains, however. It is likely to be some while yet before the 18-year-old knows whether she will be free to chase any further gold.</p> Athletics Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/semenya-to-keep-gold-medal-1823493.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/semenya-to-keep-gold-medal-1823493.html ]]> <p> The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has agreed that South African runner Caster Semenya will keep her 800 metres world title, the country's sports ministry said today. </p> Athletics Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:30:45 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/highprofile-drug-cheats-exposed-by-wada-1818060.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/highprofile-drug-cheats-exposed-by-wada-1818060.html ]]> <p> It is ten years since the World Anti-Doping Agency was formed in order to fight the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport. </p> Others Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:45:13 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/dom-joly/dom-joly-where-exactly-is-the-fun-in-a-funrun-1817322.html http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/dom-joly/dom-joly-where-exactly-is-the-fun-in-a-funrun-1817322.html ]]> <p>I was getting on to a plane from Heathrow bound for Milan and it seemed to be packed with very gaunt, tired-looking Italian women in tracksuits. For a while I couldn't work it out. Was this the return leg of a particularly strenuous weekend Anglo-Italian yoga break in the Lake District? Maybe it was just an away-day flight taking members of the "very thin and ill-looking Italian club" for a trip around London. I was very curious so I did my usual and eavesdropped. </p> Dom Joly Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/south-africa-suspends-officials-over-semenya-1815572.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/south-africa-suspends-officials-over-semenya-1815572.html ]]> <p>South Africa's Olympic body, SASCOC, has suspended the president, board and members of Athletics South Africa over the handling of 800 metres world champion Caster Semenya's gender tests. </p> Athletics Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/south-africa-make-semenya-apology-1815405.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/south-africa-make-semenya-apology-1815405.html ]]> <p> Caster Semenya has received an unconditional apology from Athletics South Africa for their role in the row over the athlete's gender. </p> Athletics Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:38:26 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/radcliffe-plays-down-injury-fears-1813356.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/radcliffe-plays-down-injury-fears-1813356.html ]]> <p> Paula Radcliffe has dismissed fears over her long-term fitness by insisting she will recover quickly from the injury problems which plagued her during yesterday's ING New York City Marathon. </p> Athletics Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:34:03 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/radcliffe-left-running-on-empty-1813237.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/radcliffe-left-running-on-empty-1813237.html ]]> <p>As the leaders of the elite women's field in the ING New York City Marathon wound their way into Central Park yesterday, Paula Radcliffe suddenly dropped behind, falling four, five, ten metres adrift of Ludmila Petrova, Derartu Tulu and Christelle Daunay. Tulu kept glancing round at the struggling Briton as though she could not quite believe what was happening. Three miles from the finish line, the fastest woman in the history of marathon running could not keep up with the modest pace.</p> Athletics Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/paula-chases-hattrick-but-plays-catchup-with-grete-1812848.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/paula-chases-hattrick-but-plays-catchup-with-grete-1812848.html ]]> <p>She was born Grete and she certainly achieved greatness; she didn't have it thrust upon her. It took years of graft as a track and cross-country runner before Grete Waitz became the trail-blazer of women's marathon running. The pencil-slim, ponytailed Norwegian made her debut at the 26.2-mile distance in New York in 1978. She smashed the world record by two minutes and broke it twice more as she racked up nine victories in the big race in the Big Apple. She also broke it in London in 1983, the year she won the women's marathon at the inaugural World Champion-ships in Helsinki.</p> Athletics Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/radcliffe-out-to-own-new-york-1812159.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/radcliffe-out-to-own-new-york-1812159.html ]]> <p>Paula Radcliffe arrived in the Big Apple this week with a Halloween witch's costume in her suitcase and with something of a scare on the injury front ahead of the defence of her unbeaten big city marathon record here tomorrow. "I tweaked my hamstring in my last workout," the Briton confided at a breakfast meeting with the media in the basement of a Manhattan hotel yesterday. "I came out here a bit ditzy but I've had treatment and I'm feeling better. I'm back running and I believe I'm going to be fine in the race."</p> Athletics Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/coach-with-1000-days-to-drive-british-athletes-to-london-golds-1812160.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/coach-with-1000-days-to-drive-british-athletes-to-london-golds-1812160.html ]]> <p>The clock on the wall of the Lee Valley Athletics Centre is ticking towards 2.12pm. For Charles van Commenee, it is the countdown to 2012 that is on his mind. Pretty much 24/7. Precisely 1,000 days from today the Dutchman will be expected to deliver eight British track and field medal winners at the London Olympic arena in Stratford.</p> Olympics Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/tweddle-to-defy-passage-of-time-1809476.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/tweddle-to-defy-passage-of-time-1809476.html ]]> <p>Oksana Chusovitina is a name that needs an introduction. Born in Uzbekistan and a former Soviet Olympian, she is a gymnast who now competes for Germany. Last year, aged 33, she won a silver medal at the Beijing Games and to Beth Tweddle she is the reason why competing at her home Games in three years' time remains a forging ambition.</p> Athletics Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/its-easy-to-keep-up-with-the-jones-boy-ndash-but-then-he-is-54-1809041.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/its-easy-to-keep-up-with-the-jones-boy-ndash-but-then-he-is-54-1809041.html ]]> <p>Paula Radcliffe ought to have little trouble keeping up with Jonesy on the streets of New York next Sunday. In addition to Britain's (and the world's) fastest ever woman over 26.2 miles, Britain's fastest ever man at the classic distance happens to be entered for the 2009 ING New York City Marathon. "I'll be running round with an old RAF friend from Cardiff, Rick McTaggart," Steve Jones said. "We'll probably run about five hours, so nothing to write home about."</p> Athletics Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0100