Athletics New Zealand is welcoming news that the IAAF, athletics world governing body, expectss Belarussian drug cheat Nadzeya Ostapchuk to be suspended for life.
Ostapchuk was initially awarded the shot put gold medal at the London Olympics, beating New Zealand's Valerie Adams into second place.
But the Belarussian then returned a positive drugs test and stripped of her medal.
There was also a subsequent retrospective positive test from 2005.
Ostapchuk is currently suspended with the IAAF still waiting on the Belarussian Federation to make a final ruling.
Concern she may be eligible to compete at August's world champs has been eased by the IAAF, which has pleased Athletics New Zealand chief executive Scott Newman.
He says it's a reinforcment of what they expected, as a life ban seemed the only option.
