Moscow – Russian authorities said they had banned four athletes including European silver medalist Irina Maracheva for doping offences. Maracheva, who came second in the 800 metres at the 2012 European Championships, was named alongside 24-year-old race-walker Anna Lukyanova and runners Yelena Nikulina and Maria Nikolaeva. Russia was suspended from world athletics in November following allegations of widespread and state-sponsored doping in a report by the World anti-doping agency.
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“Implementing our strict position about the fight against doping, the ROC has disqualified Irina Maracheva and Anna Lukyanova for two years for breaking anti-doping rules,” the Russian Olympic Committee said in a statement. ROC is taking into account the documents we have received from the International Association of Athletics Federations. Lukyanova was a silver medalist at the 2010 World junior championships. The Olympic committee said the Russian anti-doping agency had banned Nikulina and Nikolaeva for four years. (Reuters/NAN)