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| |  Tuesday, 14 August, 2001, 11:52 GMT 12:52 UK Russia's 'Golden Girl' Yegorova crosses the line at the end of her golden run Olga Yegorova has received a hero's welcome on her return to Russia following victory in the 5000m at the world championships. The gold medallist was labelled a drug cheat and booed to victory following a positive test for the banned substance EPO prior to the championships in Canada. But in stark contrast to the vilification she faced in Edmonton, a front page headline in the Soveitsky Sport newspaper hailed the athlete as "The Golden Girl of Russia". Yegorova was described as a "true champion".
The Sport-Express, another sports daily, reflected on the triumph as a "happy ending" to the championships. The Russian, who tested positive at the Paris Golden league meeting in June, was allowed to compete because the test did not conform to International Olympic Committee standards. But despite the support of the International Association of Athletics Federations both athletes and spectators questioned her involvement. One of her most vehement critics was Britain's Paula Radcliffe who decided "to speak out against drug cheats" by brandishing a banner that read "EPO cheats out" as Yegorova ran her semi-final heat.
Sovietsky Sport defended the athlete saying: "Yegorova proved to Szabo that she is a true champion." "Yegorova, this fragile 29-year-old woman, was able to withstand fearsome pressure when the whole world was up in arms against her," the Sport-Express said. "But she proved with her running that she is the best. She proved it beautifully and with dignity." | |
See also:  14 Aug 01 | World Athletics 13 Aug 01 | World Athletics 11 Aug 01 | World Athletics 09 Aug 01 | World Athletics Top World Athletics stories now: Links to more World Athletics stories are at the foot of the page. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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