Moscow – Russia has cut a coach from its track and field team for August’s European championships after anti-doping authorities started investigating him, a top official says.
Viktor Chegin turned Russia’s race-walking team into one of the world’s strongest over the past decade, but last week the Russian Anti-Doping Agency said it was investigating him and his team.
That follows repeated doping test failures by Russian walkers, most recently Olympic and world champion Elena Lashmanova, banned for two years in July.
Russian Athletics Federation head Valentin Balakhnichev was quoted by the Sovetsky Sport newspaper saying Chegin would not be part of the team for the European championship, as the recent doping scandals had “tarnished Chegin’s career” but said the coach would continue to train athletes in Russia.– Sapa-AP