Sports News

In Sports News: the Czechs take three medals at the World Athletics Championships, with Roman Sebrle, Vera Cechlova-Pospisilova and (a surprise) Pavla Hamackova reaching the podium; Jaroslav Baba, meanwhile, comes fifth in the high jump; Czech achievements are overshadowed by allegations of drug taking by Sebrle and Tomas Dvorak, though both men are cleared of any wrongdoing; and Czech footballer Rudolf Skacel gets off to a flying start at Scottish league leaders Hearts.

Three medals for Czechs in Helsinki, including surprise bronze for Hamackova

The Czech Republic's medals tally at the Athletics World Championships in Helsinki was three: silver in the men's decathlon for Roman Sebrle, bronze for Vera Cechlova-Pospisilova in the women's discus and an unexpected bronze for Pavla Hamackova in the women's pole vault. Hamackova, who cleared 450 cm to come third, put in the performance of her life on Friday.

"I guess it's the most valuable medal of my career. I've been out injured and at one point I thought I would never compete again. That said, I am definitely entering the final stage of my career. But I believe that perhaps this year I will improve on the Czech record."

Pavla Hamackova was sharing a room in Helsinki with discus bronze winner Cechlova-Pospisilova - the two women are friends and were cheering each other on.

Baba misses out on medals with fifth place in high jump

High jumper Jaroslav Baba missed out on a medal in Sunday's final, finishing fifth. Other leading contenders also did poorly, and Baba said few expected Yuriy Krimarenko of Ukraine to take gold.

"Krimarenko was a real surprise - his 232 cm was enough for victory. I think I could have managed that, but it just didn't work out for me today. I could have jumped 229 on my first attempt, but I'm just an idiot. I got it on the second attempt...so, yeah, I came fifth."

Drug charges thrown out but take shine off Czech achievements in Helsinki

The Czech Republic's achievements in Helsinki were somewhat overshadowed by allegations of drug-taking on the part of decathletes Roman Sebrle and Tomas Dvorak. Both men had been given glucose infusions towards the end of the second day, as their blood-sugar levels were dangerously low. Glucose is not a forbidden substance, and they were cleared of any wrongdoing. But Sebrle in particular was hurt by the accusations, saying the whole thing made him want to cry.

Skacel off to flying start at Scottish league leaders Hearts

What a start midfielder Rudolf Skacel has made at Scottish football club Hearts. Skacel, who is on loan from France's Marseille, has scored three times in three games so far this season for the Scottish league leaders, earning a call-up for the Czech Republic's friendly against Sweden this Wednesday. Skacel isn't the only Czech at Hearts: Roman Bednar has also been among the goals, and Michal Pospisil has impressed too.