LONDON CALLING

Radcliffe pulls out

Paula Radcliffe, the marathon world record-holder, is out of the London Olympics after failing a fitness test on a chronic foot injury at UK Athletics’ high-altitude training base on Sunday.

The 38-year-old had been suffering from a flare-up of a painful osteoarthritis condition in her left foot since the end of June and has run out of time in her battle to make it to the start-line for Sunday’s Olympic Marathon.
It is a devastating blow for one of Britain’s best-loved athletes, who has never won an

Olympic medal in her four previous appearances at the Games and whose last two outings in the marathon ended in despair.

Ticket woes

Mahesh Bhupathi was facing an 'absurd' situation on Saturday ahead of his doubles match, as he was unable to buy a ticket for his wife Lara Dutta, who wanted to watch the former in action. Bhupathi tried for six hours to get a ticket but was left with 'no luck'.

The tennis ace tweeted: “Been trying for 6 hours now to buy my wife a ticket to watch me play tomorrow. Still no luck, and the grounds here feel empty. ABSURD!!!”

Luckily for Mahesh, his Sunday’s doubles match was postponed due to inclement weather.

Blame game

BBC commentators were forced to use their own stopwatches and a cycling app to cover the women’s road race Sunday after a telecommunications failure by the Olympic Broadcast Service, the host broadcaster, deprived them of any statistical information.

Dope cheats

Uzbek gymnast Luiza Galiulina was provisionally banned on Sunday after becoming the second athlete in two days to test positive for a banned drug, the International Olympic Committee said.

Galiulina provided a urine sample on July 25 that showed traces of furosemide. Also, St Kitts and Nevis sprinter Tameka Williams admitted to team officials she had used a banned substance and being sent home days before she was due to compete.

Sportsdesk & Agencies