Kara Goucher Set To Be Upgraded To WC Silver
Kara Goucher Set To Be Upgraded To WC Silver
According to multiple news outlets, 2007 World Championships 10,000m silver medalist Elvan Abeylegesse of Turkey is one of the 28 athletes that has been found guilty of doping after the IAAF had samples re-tested, and will subsequently be stripped of her medal.
This is big news for the two women who finished behind Abeylegesse in Osaka, including American Kara Goucher, whose bronze medal is set to be upgraded to silver, and for Great Britain’s Jo Pavey, who would receive the bronze medal.
Goucher would become the first US woman to earn silver in the 10,000m in World Championships history.
The news was confirmed on the Turkish Athletics Federation’s website by their president Fatih Cintimar.
“I regret to inform you that the IAAF have asked for Elvan Abeylegesse’s defense regarding her 2007 sample following re-tests of the 2005-2007 samples,” said Cintimar.
The IAAF announced on Tuesday that 28 athletes were found to have “adverse results” when samples were re-tested from the 2005 and 2007 World Championships. The names of the athletes have yet to be revealed as the legal process continues, and Abeylegesse is the first name to be leaked from the report.
Goucher tweeted her excitement for the 41-year-old Pavey, who is set to earn her first international medal:
Lots of rumors floating around, but nothing would make me happier than to pass this to the rightful owner @jopavey! pic.twitter.com/EuMeJBgjcI
— Kara Goucher (@karagoucher) August 12, 2015
Pavey’s response was more reserved, noting her frustration for missing out on standing on the podium eight years prior:
If reports are officially confirmed then it's bitter sweet. Lovely if I get a medal but very upsetting & frustrating to miss the moment.
— Jo Pavey (@jopavey) August 12, 2015
Abeylegesse also won the silver medal in the 2008 Olympic Games 10,000m, and would lose that as well as a result of her punishment. American record holder Shalane Flanagan, who set the US record and won bronze in that race, would be upgraded to the silver, making her the first US woman to earn silver in the 10,000m at the Olympic Games.
Abeylegesse’s reported doping bust was from the 2007 World Championships, but her results for two years after the fact would be removed as well.
@Chris_J_Chavez interesting. She finished as silver medalist in front of me in Beijing Olympics.
— Shalane Flanagan (@ShalaneFlanagan) August 12, 2015
Abeylegesse’s reported doping bust was from the 2007 World Championships, but her results for two years after the fact would be removed as well.
With Flanagan being upgraded, Beijing 4th place finisher Linet Masai of Kenya would receive the bronze.