1 Aug 2008

Six Russian athletes banned

11:27 am on 1 August 2008

The International Athletics Federations has banned six leading Russian women after being suspected of manipulating drug samples.

The six who will now miss the Beijing Olympics include twice world 1,500 metres champion Tatyana Tomashova, world indoor 1,500 metres champion Yelena Soboleva and former hammer world record holder Gulfia Khanafeyeva.

Soboleva had posted the world's best times in the 1,500 and 800 this year.