Olympics: Russia stripped of Beijing 2008 4x400m women's silver medal

RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) - Russia's 4x400m relay runners were stripped of their Beijing 2008 silver medals on Friday (Aug 19) after team member Anastasia Kapachinskaya failed a doping test.

Re-analysis of samples from 2008 using new techniques discovered the banned substances stanozolol and turinabol, the International Olympic Committee said.

Kapachinskaya's 2008 Olympics results - silver in the 4x400m relay and fifth in the 400m - were both annulled. Jamaica took bronze in the 2008 relay with Belarus fourth.

"The Russian Federation team is disqualified from the women's 4x400m relay," a statement said.

"The corresponding medals and diplomas are withdrawn and shall be returned."

Russian decathlete Alexander Pogorelov tested positive for turinabol in a re-analysis and was disqualified from the 2008 decathlon, in which he finished fourth, the IOC said.

Russian shot putter Ivan Yushkov, whose 2008 samples tested positive for three substances, also had his 10th-placed finish in Beijing annulled.

Russia has been in the doping spotlight at the ongoing Rio Olympics, where it is competing with a reduced team after the discovery of state-orchestrated doping.

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