• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Olympic athlete stripped of medal and handed 10-year ban after 'dirtiest race in history'

Home> Athletics

Published 21:31 2 Mar 2025 GMT

Olympic athlete stripped of medal and handed 10-year ban after 'dirtiest race in history'

One of the top athletes in their sport is serving a huge ban after their Olympic silver medal was taken away.

Ben McCrum

Ben McCrum

A top Olympian once had her medal taken away after being banned from competing for 10 years.

Back in 2012, Russia's Tatyana Tomashova took home the silver medal during a controversial women's 1500m event at the London Olympic Games.

Despite finishing the race in fourth, Tomashova eventually claimed silver after two of the women ahead of her were disqualified after returning positive doping tests after the race.

Advert

But, over a decade after the race, the two-time world champion has met a similar fate as she has had her prized medal stripped after being handed a massive ban from competing in the sport.

Turkish athletes Asli Cakir Alptekin and Gamze Bulut finished the 1500m race in first and second, but later returned positive doping tests, upgrading Tomashova's fourth place finish to second.

However, in September it was confirmed that the Russian's silver medal would also be stripped as she was given a ten year ban after testing positive for anabolic steroids.

Advert

As more details of the London 2012 race have emerged, it has earned itself the label of the “dirtiest race in history” as, further down the field in seventh and ninth, Russians Ekaterina Kostetskaya and Natallia Kareiva have also been banned for doping.

The recent revelation of the results of Tomashova's doping test now means that a shocking six women from of the top nine in the race have since been banned for doping.

This meant that Sweden's Abeba Aregawi was handed a new silver medal during a ceremony at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games after her bronze medal was upgraded.

Interestingly, Aregawi also had an anti-doping violation in 2016 but was never banned.

Advert

The women's 1500m event at the London 2012 Olympic Games has since been labelled the "dirtiest race in history" after six of the top nine athletes returned positive doping tests. (Image: Getty)
The women's 1500m event at the London 2012 Olympic Games has since been labelled the "dirtiest race in history" after six of the top nine athletes returned positive doping tests. (Image: Getty)

Speaking after the race in 2021, Team GB’s Lisa Dobriskey, who finished 10th, told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I don’t believe I’m competing on a level playing field.”

The latest ban means that Dobriskyey will now be moved to fifth, while British teammate, Laura Weightman, who finished 11th in the race has risen to sixth.

Reacted to the news of Tomashova's ban on an Instagram story, Weightman said: "11th to 6th in the years since the London 2012 final. Hard to comprehend.

Advert

"I'll always be proud of my career and showing what is possible running clean."

Featured Image Credit: Getty

Topics: Olympics, Russia, Athletics

Ben McCrum
Ben McCrum

Ben is a sports journalist who specialises in football and MMA. He has written for publications such as Manchester Evening News, WiganToday, Manchester World and beIN Sports. Throughout his career he has interviewed top athletes in MMA including Tom Aspinall and Michael Bisping.

X

@benmcc14

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • The five events set to feature in planned 'enhanced' Olympics rival where all banned substances are legal
  • Usain Bolt had Olympic gold medal stripped from him because of heartbreaking reason
  • Olympic athlete stripped of medal after 'one of dirtiest races in history' with two Team GB athletes impacted
  • Olympic star was handed lifetime ban for truly shocking incident involving referee

Choose your content:

2 hours ago
2 days ago
  • 2 hours ago

    Usain Bolt named the one footballer he dreamed of mentoring to be the fastest alive but he never got the chance

    The Olympic legend didn't hesitate when naming the one footballer who could have rivalled him on the track.

    Athletics
  • 2 days ago

    Footage emerges of Usain Bolt making his return to the race track as Justin Gatlin immediately reacts

    Bolt's clip has certainly got fans - and Olympic gold medalist Justin Gatlin - talking.

    Athletics
  • 2 days ago

    Usain Bolt named the 'hardest' race at the Olympics and science backs up up his claim

    Usain Bolt believes one race is harder than the rest in the Olympics and science agrees with the Olympian.

    Athletics
  • 2 days ago

    Son of Premier League legend destroys Sir Mo Farah athletics record that's stood since 2011

    Sir Mo Farah's record of 12:53.11 was smashed by a former Premier League and England star's son.

    Athletics