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Savinova stripped of 2012 gold

February 10, 2017

Mariya Savinova has been stripped of her gold medal from the 2012 London Olympics for doping in a ruling issued Friday. She was one of the five Russian athletes WADA recommended for a lifetime ban.

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Olympische Spiele in London Mariya Savinova und Trainer ARCHIVBILD 2012
Mariya Savinova celebrating her gold medal at the 2012 London OlympicsImage: Getty Images/S. Lecka

Russian athlete Mariya Savinova has received a four-year ban for doping.

The middle distance runner has had her results during the period in which she was found guilty of using performance-enhancing drugs voided.

"On the basis of clear evidence, including the evidence derived from her biological passport, Mariya Savinova-Farnosova is found to have been engaged in using doping from 26 July 2010 through to 19 August 2013," CAS said.

According to the ruling, Safinova would lose her 2010 European title, 2011 world title, 2012 Olympic gold and 2013 worlds silver medal. South Africa's Caster Semenya is now in line to be promoted to gold in both the 2012 Olympics and the 2011 world championships.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) had recommended a lifetime ban for Savinova and four other Russian athletes. The ruling athletics body IAAF also extended its ban on Russian athletes on Tuesday after barring the country's athletics teams from the 2016 Rio Olympics.

dv/mds (AFP, dpa, Reuters)