Tatyana Tomashova’s upgraded result — from fourth to second place in the women’s 1500-metre final at the 2012 London Olympic Games — has now been officially disqualified.

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has notified the International Olympic Committee (IOC) of the disqualification. The step was taken by World Athletics’ Competition Department following no appeal by the Russian athlete of her 10-year ban by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on September 3, 2024, for the Use of a Prohibited Substance/Method (McLaren and LIMS evidence). This sanction stipulated the disqualification of Tomashova’s results from June 21, 2012 until Jan. 3, 2015, including the silver medal awarded to her in 2018 after the first two finishers of the London 2012 final (Aug. 10, 2012) were disqualified for doping violations.

Tomashova’s sanction stemmed from AIU charges based on historical data, showing evidence of doping in Russian athletics, from the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) at the former Moscow Laboratory. The CAS was sitting as a First Instance tribunal in this case due to the suspension of the Russian Athletics Federation at the time. The tribunal’s decision was subject to appeal to the CAS Appeals Division, but CAS has confirmed no appeal has been filed by the athlete and the First Instance decision is therefore now final and binding.

Therefore, World Athletics and the AIU have proceeded with the next steps: having the World Athletics’ Competition Department disqualify Tomashova’s results and thereafter notifying the IOC that World Athletics has modified the relevant results and rankings on their website. The IOC may now proceed with the reallocation of medals and the update of the IOC database. 

Tomashova is the fifth of the 13 finalists in that 1500-metre final to have been sanctioned retroactively for doping and had their result from the race disqualified. The 49-year-old athlete, a two-time World champion and 2004 Olympic silver medallist in the same event, was previously banned for two years and nine months in 2009 (CAS Award) for Tampering with the Doping Control process. This is therefore her second violation.

“The AIU is pleased to conclude another LIMS case and ensure athletes who competed cleanly are acknowledged as the rightful medal winners. We are committed to protecting the integrity of athletics and, even when events have long passed, we will investigate potential violations fully,” said AIU Chair David Howman.

“I believe this outcome will still be meaningful for those who are justly recognized as a consequence.”

Stressing the AIU’s intention to complete the outstanding LIMS cases on their roster, Howman said the organization hopes to conclude these matters next year.

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