By Duncan Mackay at the Lenexpo Exhibition Complex in St Petersburg

Adam Nelson Athens 2004May 30 - American shot putter Adam Nelson has been officially awarded the 2004 Athens Olympic gold medal following the disqualification of Ukraine's Yuriy Bilonoh, it was announced here today.


The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) approved the change, which finally rewards Nelson for his achievement on August 18, 2004, in the ancient Olympic Stadium at Olympia, Greece.

Bilonoh had been declared the winner for a throw of 21.16 metres on the last of his six attempts.

But when a 2004 drug sample was retested last year, it came back positive for anabolic steroids.

In the revised results, seven-time US champion Nelson won with a throw of 21.16m on his first attempt, his only successful attempt of the competition.

Denmark's Joachim Olsen moved into Nelson's former silver medal spot at 21.07m, while Spain's Manuel Martinez moved up to claim the bronze medal at 20.84m.

Turkey also added a medal to its Athens collection with Reyhan Arabacioglu being awarded bronze in the men's 77-kg weightlifting after the disqualification of Russian Oleg Perepetchenov.

Czech discus thrower Vera Pospisilova-Cechlova was awarded bronze following a positive test by Belarussian Iryna Yatchenko.

A total of five Athens medallists have had their results annulled since last year when the IOC target-tested some 100 samples using more modern methods.

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