Official: Bronze medal for Maria Calle Williams

[Fiona]

The IOC Executive Board (EB) today decided to re-award the bronze medal to Colombian cyclist Maria Luisa Calle Williams, who had placed third in the women’s Points Race (track cycling) at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

The EB respected the recent ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to uphold the cyclist’s appeal against the EB decision at the time of the Games to disqualify her for an anti-doping rule violation.

Redistribution of medal and diplomas

Following this decision, the final allocation of medals and diplomas is as follows: Slyusareva Olga (RUS) - gold, Guerrero Mendez Belem (MEX) - silver, Maria Luisa Calle Williams (COL) - bronze, Mirabella Erin (USA) - 4th, Carrara Vera (ITA) - 5th, Ulmer Sarah (NZL), 6th, Pascual Gema (ESP) - 7th and Bates Katherine (AUS) - 8th.

Background

- On 29 August 2004, during the Olympic Games in Athens, the IOC EB decided that the Colombian cyclist, who had placed third in the women’s Points Race (track cycling) event, should be disqualified for having committed an anti-doping rule violation on the basis of a communication from WADA that the substance in question was in fact a prohibited substance.

- Pursuant to this decision, the IOC re-awarded the bronze medal and diplomas accordingly. (In particular, the American athlete Erin Mirabella was awarded the bronze medal in the women’s Points Race.)

- Maria Luisa Calle Williams subsequently lodged an appeal against the IOC EB decision with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

- In an arbitral award dated 19 October 2005, the CAS decided to allow the appeal and set aside the IOC EB decision of 29 August 2004.

CONSIDERING the above, the IOC EB has decided:

I To re-award the bronze medal for the women’s Points Race event to Maria Luisa Calle Williams.

II The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) is ordered to return to the IOC, as soon as possible, the bronze medal and diploma awarded (as a result of the decision of the IOC Executive Board dated 29 August 2004) to the athlete Erin Mirabella.

III To redistribute the diplomas awarded in the women’s Points Race event accordingly.

IV The International Cycling Federation (UCI) is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned event accordingly.

V This decision shall enter into force immediately.

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