RUSSIAN BAN IS GOOD NEWS FOR CHINA
JH
20KM WALK
AT THE IAAF World Championships last year, China enjoyed a one-two courtesy of Liu Hong and Lu Xiuzhi (right) and, with no Russians in Rio, they are likely to provide the strongest medal contenders.
Yelena Lashmanova, who won gold in London 2012 and Moscow 2013, and Olga Kaniskina, th winner in Beijing 2008 and Osaka 2007, are among the Russian absentees, which will open up the podum possibilities for a number of athletes, including several local South American hopes, such as Erica de Sena of the host nation.