Ostapchuk stripped of gold for doping

Belarussian Nadezhda Ostapchuk yesterday became the first medallist disqualified from the London Games for doping and was stripped of her women's Olympic shot put title.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed that New Zealand's Valerie Adams has been awarded the gold medal after Ostapchuk provided two urine samples which were both found to contain the banned anabolic agent metenolone. Ostapchuk said she would appeal against the IOC decision.

The 31-year-old took surprise gold with a throw of 21.36m to end the almost two-year unbeaten run of 27-year-old Adams, who took silver with 20.70m.

Russia's Yevgeniya Kolodko has been upgraded to silver medal position and Lijiao Gong of China bronze. - u00a0