
Anna Chicherova of Russia competes in the women's high jump at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League track meet in Eugene, Oregon June 2, 2012 (Reuters)
The coach of 2012 Olympic high jump champion Anna Chicherova says the Russian athlete is suspected of doping at the 2008 Beijing Games.
Coach Yevgeny Zagorulko tells Russian state news agency Tass that Chicherova is one of 31 athletes notified that their samples came back positive in retests.
Zagorulko says ''three days ago, Anna received a notice that her doping sample from the Beijing Olympics tested positive after a re-check.''
He says ''so far this is at the development stage and this has not yet been finally confirmed.''
The IOC has said the 31 cases involve athletes in six sports from 12 countries. It has declined to give names, citing legal reasons.
Chicherova won the bronze medal in Beijing behind winner Tia Hellebaut of Belgium and Blanka Vlasic of Croatia.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
Short link: