Russia stripped of relay silver from London 2012 Olympics

Moscow, Feb 1: Russia was on Wednesday stripped of the 4x400 metre relay silver medal from the London 2012 Olympics, after sprinter Antoni Krivoshapka tested positive for banned steroid turibol.

The ruling is likely to see Jamaica and Ukraine promoted to silver and bronze respectively behind the United States, according to the BBC.

Krivoshapka, 29, has been out of action since 2013, the same year she clinched bronze at the World Championships in Moscow.

Russian discus thrower Vera Ganeeva and Turkish boxer Adem Kilicci have also tested positive in a review of samples.

A total of 492 samples have been re-alysed with improved anti-doping methods since London 2012 and the Intertiol Olympic Committee states that there are “likely to be more confirmed adverse alytical findings in the coming weeks and months as the re-alysis programme continues”.

In December, according to a report commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), more than 1,000 Russian athletes were part of a state-sponsored doping programme between 2011 and 2015.

Russia returned more positive tests than any other tion in the re-alysis of Beijing 2008 and London 2012 samples in 2016. (IANS)