Ohuruogu claims World Championship gold for Great Britain after returning from 'drug'

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Ohuruogu claims World Championship gold for Great Britain after returning from 'drug' ban

 

Last updated at 15:50pm on 29th August 2007 Comments

A victorious Christine Ohuruogu after her victory

 

Great Britain claimed gold and silver in the women's 400 metres at the World Championships in Osaka today with Christine Ohuruogu taking first place just weeks after completing a 12-month ban for missing three drugs tests.

Ohuruogu, 23, finished in 49.61 seconds, just ahead of fellow Briton Nicola Sanders, 25, as both runners overhauled Jamaica's Novlene Williams on the home straight.

The 23-year-old stormed to gold in the Nagai Stadium today in a personal-best time of 49.61 seconds, narrowly edging compatriot Nicola Sanders - 49.65secs - into second.

It completed a remarkable transformation in fortunes for Ohuruogu, who only returned from a 12-month ban for missing three out-of-competition drugs tests earlier this month.

But she hopes that the example set by her and Sanders' rivalry can provide the spark to reignite British athletics after a largely success-starved few years.

"It was very close," she said of the race. "It is very good in terms of competition, it's what Britain needs right now, people competing at the top level.

"I hope that people take a leaf out of that."

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Christine Ohuruogu stretches for the line to snatch gold

 

Ohuruogu has largely remained silent in Japan this week in response to what she considers unfair criticism over her ban.

As things stand, she would still not be able to compete at next year's Olympics due to a lifetime ban imposed by the British Olympic Association.

But after the win, she insisted her success was just reward for the hard work put in during her sabbatical. "It was very hard," she admitted.

"But I am very proud of myself because I had operations on both legs, I trained, got up every day and did my work.

"I trained hard, always with the World Championships in mind.

"It (winning) was all a dream, you hope you would, but to have gone and done it..."

Sanders also ran a personal best to make it a British one-two, and admitted afterwards she had not been sure of her position as she crossed the line.

"I had to just convince myself and just concentrate on my own race," she told BBC2.

"I didn't have a clue what had happened, I just lunged for the line."

She added: "It's awesome, you can't ask for more. It's fantastic."