Australian race walker Jared Tallent to be awarded gold medal from London Olympics after Russian’s results disqualified
AUSTRALIAN walker Jared Tallent will be awarded the gold medal for the 50km race at the London Olympics after the Russian winner was disqualified for doping.
UPDATE: AUSTRALIAN walker Jared Tallent will be awarded the gold medal for the 50km race at the 2012 London Olympics after the Russian winner was disqualified for doping.
Russian Sergey Kirdyapkin took gold in the race but he was later busted for doping.
On Thursday night, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland upheld an appeal by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) against ‘selective’ disqualification of six Russian athletes by the Russian athletics federation.
Tallent took to Twitter on Thursday night to express his delight at the ruling.
History has been rewritten.... I am Olympic champion! pic.twitter.com/eRRCy6zqXt
— Jared Tallent (@JaredTallent) March 24, 2016
The CAS ruled all competitive results from Kirdyapkin from August 20, 2009 to October 15, 2012 are disqualfied.
The ruling means Tallent, of Ballarat, will definitely receive the gold medal for his London race.
Russian athletes are serving an indefinite ban imposed by the IAAF after a bombshell WADA report in November uncovered state-sponsored doping and widespread corruption at the heart of Russian track and field.
“History has been rewritten,” said Tallent.
“I am the Olympic champion and justice has been served. I’m very excited to see the result amended and thank all those who have supported me across this journey.”
Athletics Australia chief executive officer Phil Jones added: “Athletics Australia has always been of the opinion that Jared Tallent is the rightful gold medallist in the men’s 50km race walk at London 2012. The decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport today vindicates that position.
“We will now take immediate action through the IAAF to ensure that the result is amended. Jared deserves to be recognised as the Olympic champion for his exemplary performance four years ago.”
Originally published as Australian race walker Jared Tallent to be awarded gold medal from London Olympics after Russian’s results disqualified
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