Russia stripped of 2008 relay for doping

Russia have been stripped of the women's 4x100-metre relay gold from the Beijing 2008 Games after Yulia Chermoshanskaya tested positive for forbidden substances in retests of samples, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Tuesday.

"The Russian Federation team is disqualified from the women's 4x100m relay," the IOC said in a statement.

"Reanalysis of Chermoshanskaya's samples from Beijing 2008 resulted in a positive test for the prohibited substances stanozolol and dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (turinabol)."

Chernoshanska finished eighth in the 200m and then ran the first leg of the relay race.

She is now disqualified from both races.

Belgium are now to get the gold, with Nigeria promoted to silver and the original fourth-place finishers Brazil to bronze.

The IOC has conducted many retests in recent months and said that 98 athletes had positive results from Beijing and London 2012. The IOC stores samples for 10 years and retests with the latest scientific methods.

Russia is currently accused of running a widespread and state-sponsored doping scheme. Its entire athletics team, apart from US-based long-jumper Darya Klishina, is suspended for the current Rio Games.