Australia’s fastest women’s sprinter, Melissa Breen, says Russia’s Olympic athletics ban boosts her confidence

MELISSA Breen, Australia’s fastest women’s sprinter, says Russia’s Olympic athletics ban boosts her confidence that she’ll run against a field of clean rivals in Rio.

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MELISSA Breen, Australia’s fastest women’s sprinter, says Russia’s Olympic athletics ban boosts her confidence that she’ll run against a field of clean rivals in Rio.

The 25-year-old, whose 11.11s 100m personal-best is the fastest by any Australian woman, said athletics’ ruling body was compelled to extend Russia’s suspension and expel athletes involved in the its systemic doping culture from the Games in August.

“We want a clean sport and we want an even playing field for everyone across all sports under the Olympic banner,” Breen said in Adelaide yesterday. “For me, I think they had no choice. It had to be done. Some action had to be taken for the credibility of the Olympic movement and the credibility of the IAAF. So they’ve taken a tough stance and I credit them for doing that.”

Olympic Athlete Melissa Breen with young local athletes including Harry and Sophie Bedford. Picture: Tom Huntley

Canberra runner Breen will contest her second Olympics after a difficult qualification series in which she narrowly missed her benchmark times.

She finally broke through in Townsville last month — and said she was relieved that her hard work to qualify would not be cheapened by having to compete against athletes who trained under Russia’s state-sponsored doping programs.

“But all I can do is go out there and run as fast as I can and not let anything like that influence me,” she said.

“All I can do is step out on the track ... know that I’m a clean athlete.”

Breen was in Adelaide on Saturday, representing Jetstar who are the naming rights partner of Little Athletics Australia.

Originally published as Australia’s fastest women’s sprinter, Melissa Breen, says Russia’s Olympic athletics ban boosts her confidence