Russian doping coach Chegin loses appeal against life ban

MOSCOW (AP) The Russian anti-doping agency says a coach linked to more than 20 doping cases has lost his appeal against a life ban from athletics.

Viktor Chegin was banned in March on evidence he oversaw mass doping by Russian race walkers at his training center, the base for many Olympic and world championship medalists.

The agency says Chegin appealed to national sports arbitration but it was turned down. The agency did not elaborate.

Chegin's former athletes include Olympic gold medalists Sergei Kirdyapkin, Elena Lashmanova, and Olga Kaniskina, all of whom have served doping bans.

In June, Chegin denied allegations by German TV that he was continuing to work with the Russian team despite his ban.