Sonia set for Radcliffe rematch

ATHLETICS: There will be a second chapter to the Sonia O'Sullivan story at the European Athletics Championships, and it looks certain to include another confrontation with Paula Radcliffe. While O'Sullivan had little hesitation yesterday morning confirming her entry for the 5,000 metres, Radcliffe will wait until today before making a decision.

The word in Munich, however, is that Radcliffe will attempt the double. Two qualifying heats are scheduled for tonight at 10.10 local time (9.10 Irish) and O'Sullivan is listed in the first, with Russia's world champion and favourite Olga Yegorova. Radcliffe is listed to go in the second heat, while Gabriela Szabo's name does not appear in either heat, finally confirming the Romanian will concentrate on the 1,500 metres.

But there is still a chance the heats may be scrapped. A total of 25 athletes have declared, but if one or more pulls out before the final check-in time tonight then the race will run as a straight final on Saturday. Fernanda Ribeiro of Portugal is another of those listed but she dropped out of the 10,000 metres on Tuesday night and there are doubts over her participation.

Otherwise, the top five finishers and the five fastest losers progress to the final, and should Radcliffe line up then the prospect of another indestructible performance beckons. Her 10,000 metres win in 30 minutes, 01.09 seconds - a European record - has already gone down in history as one of the greatest ever over the distance and just two weeks ago she ran the second fastest 5,000 metres ever by a European, 14:31.42.

The sad part about such record breaking these days is that inevitable doubters start emerging from the shadows of the sport. When she arrived back in the Olympic Stadium yesterday to collect her 10,000 metre gold medal, Radcliffe had to confront a few uneasy questions related to the possible use of illegal substances, led by two French newspapers Liberation and L'Equipe.

Judging by the crowd's reaction when Radcliffe received her medal, the doubters are few. And while her reputation as a fearsome campaigner against drugs in sport is well known, it wasn't the first time she's been caught up in such controversy.

Last summer at the World Championships in Edmonton, Radcliffe produced a banner calling for EPO cheats to get out of the sport. That clearly referred to Russia's Yegorova, who tested positive for the endurance-boosting drug EPO (erythropoeitin) earlier in the season but avoided suspension since the testing method was not yet ratified.

The question of possible drug use, however, was quickly discarded: "It upsets me because it is something that is very important to me," said Radcliffe. "I know myself and the people around me know that it is all because of the hard work that has been put in. And if I could go somewhere now and say test me for everything you can, then I would be quite happy to publish the results. But we don't have any place that can do that."

She also explained how she's been tested eight times in the last year. Two of those were blood tests for EPO, once after the world cross country in Dublin and once after the London marathon where she was victorious on both occasions. The UK Athletics Federation was also quick to answer her request to publish the results of all those tests from the last year.

There was support too from Norway's Ingrid Kristiansen, whose 16-year-old European mark of 30:13.74 Radcliffe bettered on Tuesday. Only the world record of China's Wang Junxia is faster, 29:31.78 set in Beijing in 1993.

"Paula has broken my record and she now, I believe, has the world record," said Kristiansen. "The world record is suspicious. I am not sure that is a clean record and I think a lot of runners agree."

"I think Paula is one of the best ever and I think she can run under 30 minutes. Paula is a complete runner and I have not seen anyone like her for years. She runs fast season after season and that tells me she is a clean runner. I am suspicious of people who come through for one race and are not seen again."

Part of Radcliffe's hesitation in declaring herself a definite starter for the 5,000 metres were the minor side-effects from the 10,000 metres. She suffered stomach cramps for most of Tuesday night and had a hard time sleeping.

But a relaxed O'Sullivan was clearly looking forward to another night on the track: "There is no stiffness there or anything from the 10,000. I actually hope there are heats because it gives you the chance to stretch the legs. It's something to do as well before Saturday. I do think also that 24 might be a bit too many for a final."