IRELAND’S ROB HEFFERNAN is hopeful of being awarded an Olympic bronze medal in light of the publication of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) exposure of alleged doping within athletics.
Allegations that Russian athletes have cheated their way to the podium and tried to cover it up have plunged the sport into crisis on what’s been described as an extraordinarily dark day for track and field.
WADA has recommended that Russia be suspended from competition and five athletes and five coaches be handed lifetime doping bans.
The independent commission, fronted by Dick Pound, suggested the 2012 Olympic Games were ‘sabotaged’ by the presence of doped athletes.
Russia won 17 medals in London, including eight titles, but following today’s revelations of systematic dope cheating, the legitimacy of these performances have come under scrutiny.
Sergey Kirdyapkin won the gold medal in the men’s 50km walk but was one of those named and shamed in today’s report.
The 35-year-old was included in a list of Russian walkers with suspicion of blood withdrawal in October 2011 and/or 2013.
In January, Kirdyapkin was suspended after being found guilty of violating anti-doping regulations. His ban was based on irregularities in his biological passport.
He was handed a three-year, two-month suspension backdated to October 2012 and had his results between 2009 and June 2012 cancelled. He was allowed keep his gold medal and the ban will end in time for him to defend his title in Rio.
But he’s once again become embroiled in scandal and should he be stripped of his medal, Cork athlete Heffernan will be upgraded to bronze after finishing fourth.
Heffernan, who has just begun his preparations for next year’s Olympics – his fifth Games, tweeted: “Official news of my Olympic bronze could be on the way.”
R & M Heffernan / Twitter
R & M Heffernan / Twitter / Twitter
The 37-year-old has also updated his Twitter profile to: “World Champion, European medalist, Olympic medalist in waiting.”
Australian athlete Jared Tallent, who finished second in London, has also voiced his frustration on social media.
