New Zealand's Valerie Adams takes a throw in a women's shot put qualification round during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Monday, Aug. 6, 2012. On Aug. 13, it was announced that she would take gold.
David J. Phillip, Associated Press
Valerie Adams' silver has now turned gold.
The gold medal that shot putter Nadzeya Ostapchuk of Belarus won was withdrawn Monday for doping, the Associated Press reported.
Adams of New Zealand, who is Mormon, was awarded the gold and Evgeniia Kolodko of Russia was bumped up to silver. Fourth-place finisher Gong Lijiao of China was moved up to bronze.
The International Olympic Committee said Ostapchuk tested positive for the steroid metenolone, according to the Associated Press report. She won the shot put exactly a week earlier. The IOC said she was tested the day before her competition and again following the event. Both samples were positive.
"I am speechless with this news. It is taking me some time to take this in," Adams told TVNZ from her base in Switzerland.
"It is huge and I am absolutely thrilled of course. It makes me extraordinarily proud as a New Zealander."
Adams won gold in 2008 in Beijing and plans to continue to compete, the New Zealand Herald reported.
''Right now it's a lot for me to take in. I missed the moment in the stadium to have my medal presented to me. But the facts have come out and I'm an Olympic champion back to back," she told www.stuff.co.nz.
And it will be up to New Zealand chef de mission Dave Currie to arrange for Adams to get the gold since it has to be retrieved from Ostapchuk, www.stuff.co.nz also reported.
Other Olympic news about members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who competed this weekend in London:
Racewalking
Californian and U.S. Army Staff Sgt. John Nunn had a personal best time in the 50-km men's racewalk on Saturday. He completed the 25 laps on the 2-km route in 4 hours, 3 minutes and 28 seconds. He was 43rd of 63 competitors.
Nunn, based out of Ft. Carson, Colo., is part of the Army World Class Athlete Program, which supports soldier athletes in national and international competitions.
Wrestling — Men's 96kg Freestyle
Nathaniel Tuamoheloa was scheduled to compete in the men's 96-kilogram wrestling but his first bout against Japan's Takao Isokawa showed that Isokawa won due to Tuamoheloa having an injury.
Email: rappleye@desnews.com
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Christine Rappleye is an editor and reporter for the Deseret News, where she works on the features sections, including the Food/Health section and book reviews, and Mormon Times. She previously worked for the Beaumont more ..
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As a mormon I am proud of the LDS olympic athletes.
As a Ute I am proud of the PAC-12 success. In case anyone missed it; here is a summary comment.
8/13/12 WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - The PAC-12 Conference’s final medal More..
Who am I sir?
It's nice that you can feel pride in associating with members of the PAC.
btw, the rest of the world also watched and competed against them.