Athletics: Adams welcomes life ban for rival

Valerie Adams.
Valerie Adams.
Good riddance.

That was the reaction from New Zealand's two-time Olympic shot put champion Valerie Adams to news that Belarusian rival Nazdeya Ostapchuk is expected to face a life ban after failing a doping test for a second time.

Last year Ostapchuk was stripped of her London Olympic gold, which was subsequently awarded to runner-up Adams.

And the New Zealander will again be the recipient, this time of a silver medal, with Ostapchuk now being stripped of her 2005 world championship gold after her sample was re-tested.

Olga Ryabinkina of Russia gets upgraded from silver to gold.

"I'm pretty happy that justice has been served," said Adams after winning the shot put at the Sydney Track Classic on Saturday.

"Obviously the IAAF is doing whatever they can to keep the sport clean and I give them credit for that."

"It is also a message to everybody else who is doping that you are going to get caught, one way or another, so think twice before you do anything stupid."

Ostapchuk, who was suspended for a year following her infraction at the London Olympics, is now expected to get a lifetime ban, something which Adams would endorse.

"That's two (positive tests now). Once a cheater always a cheater. She will be banned for life," Adams said.

"I'm just glad she's gone and that's good for us shot putters. We train day in day out hard to be the best in the world."

Adams produced a solid series of throws in Sydney, peaking with 20.02m in the fifth round.

She threw 19.45, 19.97 19.92 and 19.79 with her first four attempts and fouled with her last.

"I feel a little bit tired today, but hey, a win is a win, you've got to take it,' Adams said.

New Zealand's Beijing Olympic 1500m silver medallist Nick Willis achieved his goal of a world championship A-qualifying time by winning the Sydney event in 3m34.60s.

"I'm so stoked to qualify. First of all I just really wanted to try and win the race," Willis said.

"Its been a long time since I've won a race in Australia.

"I've had five races in New Zealand now where I'm out on my own doing time trials, so it was fun to be a part of a tactical affair and to get a fast time out of it as well."

New Zealand had a couple of other wins with Michael Cochrane (men's 400m hurdles, 50.07s ) setting a personal best, and Elizabeth Lamb (women's high jump 1.84m).

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