Olympic steeplechase champ under doping investigation

The 2012 Olympic 3,000m steeplechase champion is potentially facing a ban for variations in her biological passport.

Yuliya Zaripova won the 2012 Olympics as well as the 2011 world championships the year before. She has not competed since the summer of 2013, citing injury as her reason for withdrawal from that year’s world championships. She did not compete in 2014. She reported taking a break from competition in 2014 to have a baby.

The International Association of Athletics Federations, the sport’s global governing body, told the Associated Press that a decision over the inconsistencies in Zaripova’s biological passport is expected soon.

The story comes only days after three Russian Olympic champion race walkers and two other world championship medallists were banned for doping violations. The head coach of Russia’s national track and field team, Valentin Maslakov, submitted a letter of resignation last week.