Blonska stripped of heptathlon silver for doping

[August 22, 2008]  BEIJING (AP) -- Lyudmila Blonska has been stripped of her Olympic silver medal in the heptathlon for doping.

The Ukrainian athlete has been disqualified and kicked out of the Beijing Games by the International Olympic Committee.

Blonska tested positive for a steroid after finishing second in the heptathlon last Saturday.

She was temporarily suspended by the IOC on Thursday and dropped from the long jump final. Her medal was officially removed Friday.

The IOC also reserved the right to take sanctions against her coach, Sergei Blonsky.

American Hyleas Fountain is in line to take the heptathlon silver, with Russia's Tatiana Chernova moving from fourth to bronze.

Blonska faces a lifetime ban, because it was her second doping offense.

She is the biggest name among the five athletes who have tested positive so far at the games.

[Associated Press]

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