Three Russian athletes disqualified ahead of Olympics

Doping has put an end to the Olympic dreams of three Russian female runners; Evgeniya Zinurova, Nailya Yulamanova and Svetlana Klyuka have received two-year bans less than a month before London 2012.

The statement from the anti-doping body of the International Association of Athletics Federations, explains the athletes were punished for the “abnormal readouts on their biological passports”, which means they were tampering with urine samples.The disqualifications would see the trio not only missing the Games in the British capital, but parting with some silverware they won earlier as well. Yulamanova will see all of her results after August 20, 2009 annulled, which means she’ll lose her European marathon gold of 2010.  While Zinurova is to be deprived of the indoor 800-meter title she won at the European championships in 2011. Klyuka’s results starting from August 15, 2009 will also be annulled, which means she’ll keep the silver she took at the Euros in 2006. The 33-year-old was fourth on 800-meter in Beijing 2008.  The 2012 Summer Olympics are to take place in London between July 27 and August 12.