Two Turkish female distance runners banned

[Jon]

Perhaps not the two Turkish athletes that people might be thinking of, but either way it might not be surprising to learn that former Ethiopians Meryem Erdogan (2010 Euro XC U23 champ) and Alemitu Bekele (the 2010 European 5000m champ and 2009 European Indoor champ) have been banned based on their biological passport results.

[gh]

you devil

[nevetsllim]

I notice someone called Mazlum Aydemir also tested positive. Don't suppose if anyone knows if he's related to Esma, who pipped the Brits at the European Junior Champs last year.

[Jon]

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Either way, interesting to note that Erdogan's training partner, Abeylegesse, will now be promoted to gold. Alemitu Bekele also used to be coached by the same guy (Ertan Hatipoglu).

[andyjgt]

I'd seen articles in Turkish on the web about it from as early as June (though I didn't see them that early), but nothing in English, I was wondering when it'd be confirmed. As early as May it was confirmed she wouldn't be in London.

Bekele seemed quite strange to me, not competing at all in 2001-6, returning in 2007 with 16:47 (previous best 16:26) and suddenly doing 15:05 in 2008! I think her absences from the circuit in 2009 and 2011 were mainly due to injury though, just like Selsouli competed a lot when not banned except for 2008.

Erdogan had been banned already by London btw.

[LopenUupunut]

Both bans have official starting dates of February 14, 2012... so Erdogan (who only got 2 years) can be back in little more than a year.

[Jon]

...meanwhile Bekele will be 38 when her ban ends.

[Rineanna]

Will Bekele lose the 2009 indoor 3000m crown as well?

[Jon]

Unfortunately not. She'll be stripped of everything from Aug 2009 onwards.

[Gabriella]

It's interesting that part of the focus is that they are (now) Turkish. We (most) assume this is why they are now cheating, because they are part of the Turkish coaching system. But I wonder whether we should call this thread "Two former Ethiopian female distance runners banned" because they are only Turkish by passport and not culturally, ethnically, and everything else-ly.

Remember when Ludmila Enquist failed her test and she was shunned by the Swedish press? She was the Ukranian hurdler. Ben Johnson, the former Jamaican and not Canadian. If the Turkish sporting press are smart they should do the same, regardless of whether it's down to the Turks nor not