Jolanda Batagelj (previously known as Jolanda Čeplakpronouncedⓘ until 2002, born Jolanda Steblovnik on 12 September 1976) is a Slovenianmiddle distanceathlete. She was born in Celje and lived in Velenje until briefly moving to Monaco. She has lived in Celje since.
Running career
In her early career, she did not specialise, and ran at many distances. She later settled on the 800 metres where she found relative success on the IAAF Golden League circuit, despite having to compete against Maria de Lurdes Mutola, who went unbeaten at all major championships from 1999 until the 2004 Summer Olympics.
At the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Čeplak finished very strongly in the 800 m but could not quite catch winner Kelly Holmes and finished with exactly the same time as Hasna Benhassi. A photo-finish showed her in third-place, winning the bronze medal.
PED use and suspension
On 18 June 2007, Čeplak tested positive on erythropoietin. On 26 July, IAAF announced that the B test confirmed the result of the A test.[1] Čeplak said that she has never taken any illegal substances and would try to prove her innocence with all means possible.[2] She received a two-year suspension, and returned to competition in July 2009.[3]
Personal life
After a divorce from Aleš Čeplak in 2007, she married a triple jumper Andrej Batagelj from Nova Gorica in 2009. They live in Celje.
