CAS imposes new doping bans for Russians, Olympic medals to change
Russian race walker Sergei Kirdyapkin and steeplechaser Yulia Zaripovawill lose their Olympic gold medals from the 2012 Summer Games in London after the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld suspensions and punishments by Russian authorities in six cases of doping.
Russia will also lose several world championship medals in the process.
CAS has determined that all of Kirdyapkin’s competitive results from Aug. 20, 2009 to Oct. 15, 2012 have been disqualified, which includes his victory at the 2012 Olympics in the 50-kilometer race walk. Australia’s Jared Tallent will be upgraded to gold upon ratification by the International Olympic Committee.
The International Association of Athletics Federation, track and field's governing body, passed along its recommendation to the IOC.
“The IAAF will immediately proceed to the effective disqualification of results, re-rankings and reallocation of medals in all competitions under its control,” the IAAF said in a statement. “With respect to the Olympic Games, the IAAF will inform the International Olympic Committee of the CAS decisions and request the disqualification of results and the reallocation of medals.”
Tallent posted the following message on Twitter upon hearing the news:
Olga Kaniskina will be stripped of her silver medal from London in the 20-kilometer race walk after her results from Aug. 15, 2009 to Oct. 15, 2012 were annulled. China’s Qiejang Shenjie finished second and will inherit the silver medal.
Race walker Sergei Bakulin will lose his silver medal from the 2011 IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea. His results from Feb. 25, 2011 to Dec. 24, 2012 have been disqualified. Compatriot Russian Denis Nizhegorodov will take on gold. Kirdyapkin and Borchin face possible further punishment after allegedly racing while suspended.
• WADA to investigate systemic doping in Russian and Chinese swimming
Steeplechaser Zaripova will lose a world championship and Olympic gold medal in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Habiba Ghribi of Tunisia will receive both gold medals.
A report by the World Anti-Doping Agency WADA commission found that the IAAF& delayed cases and the investigation while former IAAF anti-doping head Gabriel Dolle& would allow the athletes compete at the 2013 world championships in Moscow. None of them competed in Moscow after the IAAF legal counsel threatened to resign.
Dolle has been banned five years by the IAAF. Former Russian Athletics head Valentin Balakhnichev was banned for life.
Russia's track and field team remains banned from international competition after a report by WADA exposed evidence of systemic doping and corruption.
- Christopher Chavez
