THE LATEST in the aches, pains & eligibility departments:
WR-holding hurdler Tobi Amusan isn’t quite out of the woods yet. The AIU has filed an appeal with CAS over her not-guilty verdict (see “Last Lap”).
Kelsey-Lee Barber called it quits on the season when she suffered a small calf tear in the final round of the javelin at Budapest. “I tried my best to recover and be ready for the Brussels DL, but my body has said no,” the Aussie posted.
Distance legend Kenenisa Bekele, now 41, has announced his retirement is near, after one more race yet to be announced.
Matthew Boling will bypass his final year of eligibility at Georgia to go pro and focus on the Olympics. He will be coached by Alleyne Francique.
Former World U20 (Junior) 400 champ Hima Das has been provisionally suspended by India’s anti-doping agency for whereabouts failures.
Former Cuban triple jumper Andy Díaz will be eligible to represent Italy starting August 03, 2024. That means no European Championships next summer, but he will be eligible for the Olympics.
Swiss decathlete/long jumper Simon Ehammer had shoulder surgery in late September. He says, “I hope that I will soon be able to throw the javelin without pain again.”
French sprinter Mouhamadou Fall, already provisionally suspended for whereabouts violations, also tested positive for the stimulant Octodrine in July.
Larissa Iapichino had to withdraw from the DL Final long jump because of a muscle strain.
Woody Kincaid pulled out of the Eugene meet, saying, “I felt a little off since traveling and unfortunately last night I got more sick (negative for COVID) and I won’t be running Pre… Going in drained/sick doesn’t set myself up for success.”
Emmanuel Korir says that a nagging injury hurt him in Budapest. “I’m recovering well. My left leg is getting better. I hope to come back bigger and better,” the Olympic 800 champion says.
Vault great Renaud Lavillenie, just turned 37, had surgery on his left thigh in mid-September. “Operation gone well, the hamstring tendon is repaired,” he reported. “A new challenge begins today and I am motivated as always.”
Anita Márton has retired at 34. The Hungarian putter was World Indoor champ in ’18, and the ’16 Olympic bronze medalist.
Forget about suplexes: Daniel McArthur, who put 70-7 (21.51) to win the ACC Indoor for North Carolina in ’22, hasn’t thrown since that season, instead wrestling in the WWE. Now, it appears, he is training for a shot comeback.
Eilish McColgan announced that she would be taking the rest of the ’23 season off. “I’m currently on an extended break – something I haven’t taken properly since 2015 – to recharge the mind and body!”
Dutch sprinter Dafne Schippers announced her retirement at age 31. The 2-time world 200 champion has struggled in recent years with a chronic back injury.
Aliphine Tuliamuk has withdrawn from the Chicago Marathon. While at a Kenyan training camp, she said, “a chronic hamstring issue I had been managing for months became acute, an MRI showed a tendon sprain; I am feeling a lot better but not 100% to race to my best.”
Doping bans:
5 years — Agnes Barsosio (Kenya, marathon);
4 years — Michael Kibet (Kenya, distance);
2 years — Hanna Malyshyk (Belarus, hammer). □