Russian media hails Yegorova as true champion

Russian media hailed Olga Yegorova, at the centre of a drug scandal over the last few weeks, as a "true champion" on Monday, after she won the 5,000 metres title at the world athletics championships.

"The Golden Girl of Russia," read a front-page headline in Sovietsky Sport newspaper, while another national sports daily, Sport-Express, called Yegorova's triumph a "happy ending" to the championships, which finished in Edmonton on Sunday.

Yegorova tested positive for the blood-boosting drug EPO (erythropoietin) at the Paris Golden League meeting in July.

She was initially suspended from the championships but was later cleared to compete because the test did not conform to International Olympic Committee (IOC) standards.

Yegorova denied using the stamina-boosting drug and passed another test for the substance at the championships.

The 29-year-old Russian, who won Saturday's final with ease, had been the subject of a trackside anti-drugs protest by British team captain Paula Radcliffe before Thursday's heats.

The world cross country champion brandished a banner reading "EPO cheats out" -- her actions were criticised by the head of the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF).

"I don't believe protest signs belong in the stadium. The stadium is for sport," Istvan Gyulai, said.

And he defended the decision to let Yegorova run and eventually win the gold medal.

"The IAAF handled the Yegorova case with the highest degree of responsibility," Gyulai said.

Radcliffe Unrepentant
But Radcliffe was unrepentant and said the Yegorova episode could destroy the sport's credibility and dent its universal appeal.

"It was left to the athletes to make a stand... I decided that the time had come to speak out against the drug cheats who threaten the very essence of my sport," she said, writing in her column in the Daily Telegraph on Monday.

And Radcliffe berated the IAAF for not doing more to combat the problem.

"In a time of such medical advances we have the capability to design a reliable and comprehensive testing system. At the moment it is one step behind the cheats... The IAAF have more than enough money to keep fighting the battle on drugs," she said.

Yegorova produced a devastating kick in the last lap to win Saturday's final by three seconds from Spain's Marta Dominguez in 15 minutes 3.39 seconds. Defending champion Gabriela Szabo, who had threatened to boycott the 5,000, finished eighth.

But the Russian was booed by spectators after her victory and again at the medal ceremony.

Sovietsky Sport defended the athlete saying: "Yegorova proved it to Szabo...that she is a true champion. (Yegorova's) advantage over everyone was overwhelming, while Szabo finished only eighth."

"Yegorova, this fragile 29-year-old woman, was able to withstand fearsome pressure when the whole world was up in arms against her," the Sport-Express said.

"But she proved with her running, with her performance that she is the best. She proved it beautifully, with dignity."

(Additional reporting by Claire Soares in London)