30 Apr 2009

Eight months on from Olympic Games, NZ gains a silver medal

9:20 pm on 30 April 2009

Athlete Nick Willis is expected to be awarded a retrospective silver medal from the Beijing Olympics, after the winner tested positive for a new banned drug.

Willis finished third in the 1500 metres last August but is in line to move up a spot after the gold medallist Rashid Ramzi of Bahrain tested positive to the new blood-boosting drug CERA in re-tests.

Athletics New Zealand's sports manager Brett Addison says they haven't spoken with Willis since the news broke but he's not sure if the runner will be totally happy with his upgrade.

Addison says while Willis will be happy a cheat's been caught he'd rather win on the track than in a court room afterwards.