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French runner Gressier thanks anti-doping body for his world title / Photo: © AFP
NYSE - LSE
French runner Gressier thanks anti-doping body for his world title
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 produced a stunning sprint finish to pip Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia to the line in Tokyo, with another European, Andreas Almgren of Sweden, 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 AIU (the Athletics Integrity Unit) 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.
K.Gray--SFF
