Doping ban ended for former London marathon winner Liliya Shobukhova
Last Updated: 24/08/15 6:01pm
Former London marathon winner Liliya Shobukhova is free to compete again after her ban for doping was ended early.
The Russian, whose 2010 London marathon victory was cancelled out, has had her ban reduced by seven months in return for providing "substantial assistance" to the World Anti-Doping Agency.
The 37-year-old was banned for three years and two months after abnormalities were discovered in her athlete biological passport. Initially she was banned for two years by the Russian federation, but the IAAF appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to have it increased.
WADA has now agreed to the ban being cut, meaning she is eligible to compete again. Investigations are continuing using information the Russian has provided.
A statement from WADA said: "In light of the substantial assistance that Ms Shobukhova provided in line with the provisions of the world anti-doping code WADA has agreed to a seven-month reduction in the athlete's sanction. This brings the total length of the athlete's ineligibility period to two years and seven months, which ended on 23 August 2015.
"Ms Shobukhova approached WADA in May 2014 with a view to providing substantial assistance within the meaning of the code. She accepted from the outset that she had committed an anti-doping rule violation.
"The information and documentation provided by Ms Shobukhova has been of substantial value in uncovering and investigating anti-doping rule violations committed by other individuals, including athlete support personnel.
"WADA considered the information provided by Ms Shobukhova to be of significant value to clean sport."
