Via the BBC:

There were numerous attempts to discredit Mr Yushchenko, but nothing had a greater impact than his alleged poisoning, which left scars and blisters on his face weeks before the crucial vote.

His team claims this was yet another dirty trick by his opponents.

Russian TV channels and spin doctors close to the Kremlin portray Mr Yushchenko as an agent of the West who would plunge Ukraine into civil war.

However, Mr Yushchenko has never indulged in anti-Russian rhetoric and gets praise and support from Russian liberal politicians.

And via the Chicago Sun-Times/The AP:

Yushchenko accused the Ukrainian authorities of poisoning him. His detractors suggested he’d eaten some bad sushi. Adding to the intrigue, the Austrian doctors who treated him have asked foreign experts to help determine if his symptoms may have been caused by toxins found in biological weapons.

Medical experts said they may never know what happened. But the illness, whatever it was, has dramatically changed his appearance since he sought treatment at a private Vienna clinic Sept. 10.

Known for his ruggedly handsome looks, Yushchenko now has a pockmarked complexion. His face is haggard, swollen and partially paralyzed. One eye often tears up.

By the time Yushchenko checked out of the clinic last month after returning for follow-up treatment, physicians said they could neither prove nor rule out poisoning. Dr. Nikolai Korpan, who oversaw Yushchenko’s treatment in Vienna, said the cause of his illness remained ‘’totally open.'’

Meanwhile, the US has rejected the election results:

Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Wednesday the United States did not accept the results of the disputed presidential election in Ukraine as legitimate and called for immediate action.

Hat tip to Kate guest-blogging at OTB for noting the Yushchenko story.