Nadzeya Ostapchuk of Belarus will have to return her gold medal in shot put after both of her urine samples tested positive for anabolic steroids. Her medal will go to Valerie Adams of New Zealand, who had previously been awarded silver.
Ostapchuk had won bronze in Beijing but had apparently placed first in the shot put competition with a winning throw of 21.36 meters, or just a tad beyond 70 feet. However, both a sample taken last Sunday, the day before the event, and last Monday, the day of the event, tested positive for methenolone. Monday, she was disqualified and Adams was declared the winner for her 20.40 meter toss.
Ostapchuk had been one of just three medalists from Belarus. China can add another medal to its tally after Lijiao Gong was bumped from fourth place up to a spot on the podium.
Ostapchuk is the third Olympian to fail a drug test in the wake of the 2012 games, but the only one to have earned a medal and therefore the first to have one stripped.. Notably, American judoka Nick Delpopolo had been kicked out of the games for enjoying some marijuana-laced baked goods -- i.e., pot brownies -- after he had placed seventh in his weight class.
For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics hub.
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