14 Aug 2012

Hellier says drugs cheats affect so many

3:14 pm on 14 August 2012

Valerie Adams former coach, Kirsten Hellier, says there are so many athletes that will be feeling a little empty following the latest doping case.

Adams is to receive the Olympic gold after the Belarussian that beat her in London, Nadzeya Ostapchuk failed a drugs test

This is the second time in the last 3 Olympics that the women's shot put gold medalist has been stripped of her title.... a Russian was thrown out after winning in Athens in 2004.... Adams finished 8th then.

Hellier, who coached one of the Chinese athletes in London, says there is a ripple down affect.... Adams didn't get to hear her national anthem again, the Chinese athlete that will now get bronze didn't get to stand on the dais and the 13th ranked thrower didn't get to compete in the final.

Hellier says some obvious red flags did go up with the throws Ostapchuk had recorded in recent months and the fact that all her best throws were in Belarus and never on the international stage.