By Chris Chavez
April 9, 2024
Ekaterina Poistogova-Guliyev has been banned for four years for her role in Russia’s systemic doping during the 2012 Olympics in London. She finished third at the London Olympics but was upgraded to a silver medal after her compatriot Mariya Savinova was stripped of her gold medal due to doping offenses. Now, Poistogova-Guliyev is set to lose that silver medal.
Here’s what you need to know:
– Poistogova-Guliyev previously competed for Russia before switching allegiances to Turkey in May 2021.
– The suspension comes from the Russian Athletics Federation and will void all of her results from July 2012 to October 2014 upon re-analyzing past drug samples from the Moscow Anti-Doping Laboratory.
– The World Anti-Doping Agency previously recommended a lifetime ban for Poistogova. She was suspended for two years from 2015 to 2017. She was back to competing in 2018.
– The new suspension runs through 2026 since it accounts for her previous two-year ban.
– The Court of Arbitration for Sport confirmed the suspension and disqualification of results:
“The arbitral award in the matter CAS 2023/O/9505 World Athletics vs. Russian Athletic Federation & Ms. Ekaterina Guliyev was notified to the parties on 28 March 2024. The request for Arbitration filed by World Athletics against the Russian Athletics Federation and Ms. Ekaterina Guliyev (Zavyalova / Poistogova) was partially upheld. Ms. Ekaterina Guliyev was found guilty of an anti-doping rule violation under Rule 32.2(b) of the IAAF Competition Rules 2012-2013 and was sanctioned with a period of ineligibility of four (4) years starting on 28 March 2024, with credit to be given for the two-year period of Ineligibility imposed on her in the Final Award in CAS 2016/A/4486 IAAF vs. Ekaterina Postogova, which has already been served. All competitive results obtained by Ms. Ekaterina Guliyev from 17 July 2012 until 20 October 2014 are disqualified, with all the results consequences, including the forfeiture of any titles, awards, medals, points and prize and appearance money.”
– In February, she ran the 800m at the Turkish indoor track and field championships and finished third. She was a member of the Turkish team at the 2022 European Championships in the 800m and reached the semifinals of the 800m.
– The final decision on the reallocation of medals will be determined by the International Olympic Committee.
The London 2012 Olympic final
– The women’s 800m and 1500m at the London Olympics are among the most tainted global championship finals. Mariya Savinova, won the race in 1:56.19, ahead of South Africa’s Caster Semenya. Savinova was the reigning world champion in the event but managed to kick hard to beat Semenya.
– Savinova was not charged with a doping violation by World Athletics until Aug. 2015. She was one of five Russian runners recommended for a lifetime ban. She and Postogova were coached by Vladimir Kazarin, who was banned for life after WADA’s report blew the lid on his administration of performance-enhancing drugs to his athletes.
– 2008 Olympic champion Pamela Jelimo, who took third in London in 1:57.59, will upgrade her bronze to a silver.
– Team USA’s Alysia Montaño, who surged to the front of the race and took the field through 400m in 56.31, finished fifth. With Savinova and Postogova’s disqualification, Montaño would receive the bronze medal. She would’ve been the first Olympic medal for the United States in the women’s 800m since Kim Gallagher’s bronze at the 1988 Games in Seoul. Montaño was also upgraded to the world championship bronze medal in 2011 and 2013 after Savinova’s disqualification. Montaño last competed in 2017.
– Russia’s Elena Arzhakova, who finished sixth in the 800m final in London, was disqualified after an athlete biological passport violation was backdated to July 2011.
Chris Chavez
Chris Chavez launched CITIUS MAG in 2016 as a passion project while working full-time for Sports Illustrated. He covered the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and grew his humble blog into a multi-pronged media company. He completed all six World Marathon Majors and is an aspiring sub-five-minute miler.
