Kyrgyz runner bites cop

Police: Olympic runner arrested for biting officer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) – Authorities say a three-time Olympic runner was arrested after she bit a police officer.

Gainesville police say Officer Juan DeCastro picked up 48-year-old Irina Bogacheva at about 9:45 p.m. on Saturday at a Lil’ Champ food store.

Bogacheva was reportedly intoxicated and attempting to buy liquor.

As DeCastro was putting her in the back of his patrol car, she grabbed his radio. When he tried to get her off the radio, she bit his hand, and he arrested her.

Bogacheva is charged with battery of a law enforcement officer and resisting without violence. She was released Monday afternoon on bail.

Attempts to contact her by phone Tuesday afternoon were unsuccessful.

Bogacheva represented Kyrgyzstan in the 1996, 2000 and 2004 summer Olympics.

She’ll be lucky to avoid the swine flu’