WORLD-OLYMPICS-DOPING-DECISION

Geneva, December 5 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on Wednesday that four 2004 Athens Olympic medalists, including Ukraine’s shot put gold medalist Yuriy Bilonoh, had been stripped of their medals after re-tested samples from eight years ago were positive.

The other athletes are women’s shot putter Svetlana Krivelyova of Russia (bronze medal), discus thrower Irina Yatchenko of Belarus (bronze medal) and Belarusian hammer thrower Ivan Tsikhan (silver medal).

In all four cases, the IOC Executive Board has ordered the relevant National Olympic Committees to return to the IOC, as soon as possible, the medals and diplomas awarded to the athletes.