Goodwill glory for Yegorova

Yegorova was an unpopular winner in Edmonton

Russia's Olga Yegorova won the women's 5,000 metres at the Goodwill Games on Tuesday with Britain's Kathy Butler taking bronze.

Yegorova, who was at the centre of a drugs scandal at the World Championships in August, fought off a strong challenge from Ethiopia's Berhane Adere to maintain her unbeaten record this year.

After the race, Yegorova said: "I was so tired out there tonight. It has been such a hard season. This is really one race too many."

She told reporters that she would not follow up on her threat to sue Romania's Gabriela Szabo and Britain's Paula Radcliffe for their comments about her alleged cheating.

"If Szabo is to blame for all this then I've already punished her by defeating her (in Edmonton)," she said. "I have no interest in any legal action."

It has been such a hard season - this is really one race too many

Olga Yegorova

Adere put the controversial Russian under pressure by going for home 250m out but Yegorova fought back in the finishing straight to take the title in a time of 15 minutes 12.22 seconds.

The gap between the leading two was five metres with Butler back in a distant third.

Yegorova was applauded by the crowd but opted not to take a lap of honour.

Victory secured a prize of $20,000 but the furore surrounding her participation in Edmonton continues to follow her.

Yegorova was allowed to compete in the 5,000m at the World Championships despite testing positive for the blood-boosting drug EPO.

She was cleared to compete because the test did not conform to International Olympic Committee standards.

The Russian has denied using the drug and Goodwill Games officials have said she would not be tested for EPO here.