Nadzeya Ostapchuk stripped of London Olympics gold medal

GlobalPost

Just hours after the Olympic flame was extinguished, Nadzeya Ostapchuk was stripped of her London Olympic gold. Ostapchuk, the women's Olympic shot put champion, was stripped of her gold medal after testing positive for a banned substance, according to CNN. 

In a statement the IOC said, "The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has disqualified, withdrawn the medal from, and excluded Belarus's Nadzeya Ostapchuk from the Games of the XXX Olympiad in London."

The IOC added that the committee first requested Ostapchuk provide a urine sample on August 5. An IOC representative told CNN, "She competed the next day in the women's shot put event, where she placed first, and was asked to provide a sample straight after her competition. Both samples indicated the presence of metenolone, which is classified as anabolic agent under the 2012 prohibited list."

According to the Associated Press, only one other athlete tested positive for a banned substance after competing. US judo fighter Nick Delpopolo was cited for traces of marijuana in his urine sample.

Prior to the games, seven athletes were caught doping. 

IOC President Jacques Rogge told the AP, "I think that is a sign that the system works. I am happy about the fact that we could catch athletes who cheated, both before the games and at the games."

The medal will now be awarded to New Zealand’s Valerie Adams.

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