Promoter denies Adams-Ostapchuk fight talk

Valerie Adams will receive her gold medal next Wednesday. Photo / Getty Images

Valerie Adams says she would be happy to get in the ring with Nadzeya Ostapchuk and give her what for, however far-fetched rumours of a boxing fight between the two shot put rivals have been proven unfounded.

Val Adams told Radio Sport today that she'd be up to entering the ring against her disgraced rival on the back of reports that Fight For Life promoters were heading to Belarus to approach Ostapchuk.

"That would be interesting, it would be fun. I'm sure I'd be keen to do it. Why not.''

"I'm from South Auckland and I can look after myself really well. Fought a few boys at school."

However Duco promoter David Higgins told nzherald.co.nz he had no plans to go to Belarus to organise the fight and did not know where the report came from.

"That's news to me," he said. "But being involved in Fight for Life last year, the speculation flies around all the time, a bit of joking goes around about various public figures, you'd be surprised about the politicians there is speculation about ... it must be a bit of that."

As for news Ostapchuk's coach put steroids in the athlete's food, Adams doesn't believe a word of it.

"It just doesn't add up. I understand there is still a bit of process to go through but I'm leaving it all with my manager to deal with because I need to focus on next week and just getting home and celebrating with the rest of New Zealand. It's not fair."

Adams says she's "very excited" about the gold medal presentation which will take place at the Cloud on Auckland's waterfront next Wednesday.

The New Zealand Olympic Committee recently received the medal from Ostapchuk - it's said to be in "good condition''.

The medal will be presented by Lt Gen The Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae, Governor-General of New Zealand and NZOC patron, who was at the 2012 London Olympic Games to support the New Zealand team.

"It was interesting to read all the ideas that were put out there by the public but I know what is going to be organised next week at the Cloud is going to be amazing regardless if there's 2,500 people there or 80,000 people there.

"The difference is in London there would have been 80,000 people in the stadium but not everybody would have been a Kiwi. So it will be good to be there with 2,500 Kiwis singing along with me to the national anthem and celebrating from near or afar."

Adams says the medal ceremony will end a chapter in her career but isn't sure if it will provide closure after an emotional last month.

"The feelings were put aside a while ago but closure...I'm not sure. All I know is that I'll be closing this chapter and opening up a new one to start my season off next year after I came back from a break and all I want to do right now is just enjoy the moment, smile and be happy and stand on that podium nice and tall and be proud of being a Kiwi and be proud of what we do for being such a small country."

- NewstalkZB/nzherald.co.nz