TOKYO: French athlete Jimmy Gressier claimed on Sunday after stunning his African rivals to take the 10,000 metres title at the World Championships that he had the anti-doping authorities to thank for his shock win.
Gressier (28:55.77s) produced a stunning sprint finish to pip Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia (28:55.83s) to the line in Tokyo, with another European, Andreas Almgren of Sweden (28:56.02), taking the bronze medal.
The Frenchman was the first European winner over the distance since Somalia-born Briton Mo Farah in 2017.
Farah also won in 2013 and 2015.
“Today, I beat East Africa. Let’s not kid ourselves, you know I’m not picky, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) is doing a huge job and it helps to level the playing field a bit more,” Gressier told reporters after the race.
The AIU has suspended and handed bans to a number of Kenyan runners in the last two years and this month the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) charged the east African running powerhouse with non-compliance, meaning their anti-doping practices are inefficient.
There is no suggestion that Kejelcha has ever been involved in doping. — AFP
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