[PAULA Radcliffe] and her husband prepared the cardboard placard, and the two women displayed it close to the start of the back straight, just a few rows from the front. [Olga Yegorova] ran past twice before security guards told them to take it down. The Englishwomen complied. "They said that if we did not, it would be removed forcibly and we would be thrown out," Radcliffe confirmed. "I don't think Yegorova was aware of it, at all."

He departed without further comment after Radcliffe told him: "Everyone knows she should not be allowed to compete. She failed a test for EPO." Other Russians in the vicinity shouted: "You're crazy," but Algerian and French athletes and coaches were among those who shook Radcliffe by the hand.

MAKING A POINT: British athletes [Hayley Tullett] and Paula Radcliffe hold up a placard demonstrating against Russian Olga Yegorova (below left) being allowed to compete in the women's 5000 metres after recently testing positive for the banned blood-boosting agent EPO. [Gabriela Szabo] (below right), winner of the 1500m earlier in the week, threatened to boycott the event in protest but recanted. Picture: Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters