Blonska faces lifetime drugs ban

Last Modified: 21 Aug 2008
Source: ITN

Lyudmila Blonska of Ukraine is expected to lose her Olympic silver medal because she has failed a dope test.

Blonska, who previously served a two-year drugs ban, tested positive for steroids and the result was confirmed by a test on a second sample.

She is expected to lose her heptathlon silver medal, promoting Great Britain's Kelly Sotherton to fourth place in the competition.

An International Olympic Committee official said: "The International Olympic Committee disciplinary commission held a hearing today in relation to her adverse analytical finding. The A and B sample analysis were positive for the substance methyltestosterone.

"At the end of the hearing, the commission decided to provisionally suspend Blonska from all competitions with immediate effect and to provisionally cancel her accreditation, until the final decision has been pronounced by the IOC Executive Board."

As a second-time offender Blonska is facing a lifetime ban from competition.

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