December 22 - Mehdi Baala (pictured second right) will receive the Olympic 1500 metres bronze medal he is due from last year's Beijing Games  following the disqualification of drugs cheat Rashid Ramzi at a special ceremony in Paris next month, the French Olympic Committee (CNOSF) announced today.


Baala originally finished fourth in the Chinese capital but was upgraded following the disqualification of Ramzi, one of five athletes to test positive for CERA (Continuous Erythropoiesis Receptor Activator), the latest generation of the blood-boosting drug Erythropoietin (EPO).

Ramzi, who was originally from Morocco, had been the first athlete representing Bahrain to win an Olympic gold medal but now the title will be awarded to Kenya's Asbel Kipruto Kiprop with New Zealander Nick Willis taking silver.

Baala will receive the bronze medal from Guy Drut, the 1976 Olympic 110m hurdles champion who is now a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and Pierre Weiss, the general secretary of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), in a ceremony on January 6 at the House of French Sport that will be presided over by Denis Masseglia, the President of the CNOSF.

Baala's medal takes France's final medal tally from Beijing to 41, seven gold, 16 silver and 18 bronze.


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May 2009: I was pleased Ramzi tested positive claims Cram
April 2009: Coe despair at Olympic 1500m champion positive test