Tatyana Tomashova Stripped of 2012 Olympic Medal

Tatyana Tomashova, a former Russian middle-distance runner, has been stripped of her 2012 Olympic 1500m silver medal following a 10-year ban imposed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) due to violations of anti-doping regulations. The ban and disqualification stem from reanalyses of out-of-competition samples taken in 2012 that tested positive for anabolic steroids. Initially finishing fourth, Tomashova was upgraded to silver after the original gold and silver medalists, Asli Cakir Alptekin and Gamze Bulut of Turkey, were disqualified for doping. The ruling means that if no successful appeal is made, American Shannon Rowbury, upgraded to fourth, could potentially receive a bronze medal, marking a historic achievement for U.S. female athletes in the event. Tomashova, now 49, has a history of doping violations, having previously served a two-year suspension in 2008. This incident adds to the ongoing controversy surrounding the integrity of the 2012 Olympic 1500m final, which has been labeled one of the dirtiest races in history.