9 years later, the Canadian officially receives Olympic money

TORONTO –

The improvement in Derek Drouin’s medal at the London Olympics is a positive sign for anti-doping measures in sport.

But the Olympic champion’s thoughts after Friday’s news immediately turned to the new gold medalists, including American Erik Kynard in his event, whose podium chances were stolen.

Nine years after winning bronze in the high jump at the London 2012 Olympics, Drouin’s medal was officially promoted to silver on Friday as the IOC approved disqualifications in several sports.

“It’s great to see these steps taken to maintain the integrity of the Olympics which show that there is no place for doping in sport,” Drouin said on Friday.

“I am just sorry for the athletes who have been denied the opportunity to listen to their own national anthem while standing on the podium, as well as for the athletes who will now receive their Olympic medals in the mail rather than having the experience. of the medal ceremony. They’ve always dreamed of it. “

Drouin, a 31-year-old athlete from Corunna, Ont., Won gold at the 2015 world championships and the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Ivan Ukhov initially won gold in London, but was one of 12 Russian track and field athletes who were convicted in February 2019 of state-sponsored doping. He received a doping ban and his results between July 2012 and December 2014 were disqualified, including his Olympic gold medal.

The men’s high jump was one of five athletics, canoeing and wrestling events at the 2012 Olympics, the results of which were rewritten on Friday as part of the International Olympic Committee board meeting . The IOC endorsed the results which first had to be adjusted by the International Federations concerned.

Kynard won gold in the high jump, while Drouin, Mutaz Essa of Qatar and Briton Robert Grabarz – who initially finished three for third place – now split the silver.

Drouin said that improving the medal is “not the same. Talking from experience, (being on top of the podium) is something I’ll never forget, and it’s something (Kynard) should have lived, and he might never do so now. “

Drouin, whose career has been hampered by several serious injuries in recent years, also won gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 2015 Pan American Games.

At least no one in the London Drouin event completely missed out on the podium, he said. Due to the tie at three for bronze, there was no fourth place.

Canada’s Dylan Armstrong finished fourth in the shot put at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and has never been on the Olympic medal podium. Years later, he was promoted to bronze after Belarusian Andrei Mikhnevich was disqualified for doping. Armstrong finally received his medal – Canada’s first in the shot put at the Olympics – at a ceremony in his hometown of Kamloops, British Columbia, in 2015.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on November 12, 2021.