Olympics: Willis set to get silver medal

Nick Willis. Photo / Greg Bowker

New Zealand runner Nick Willis says today's International Olympics Committee decision to strip Bahrain's Rashid Ramzi of the 1500m gold medal for doping at the Beijing 2008 Games will be his spur to win the event in 2012 at London.

"The IOC today announced sanctions against five athletes who participated in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing for having committed anti-doping violations," the IOC said in a statement today after a meeting in Ukraine.

"The athlete, Rashid Ramzi shall be disqualified from the athletics men's 1500m event, where he had placed first.

"He shall have his medal and diploma in the above-mentioned event withdrawn."

Kenya's Asbel Kipruto Kiprop who won silver behind Ramzi now stands to be upgraded to gold, with the decision resting on the IOC. Willis took bronze and Mehdi Baala of France was fourth.

Willis said this morning being awarded the silver medal was some way off yet - Ramzi still had an avenue of appeal via the Court of Arbitration.

" But at least (Ramzi) has been stripped of his gold medal, that's the main thing," he told Radio Sport.

That meant there had been some justice done in the sport which was satisfying.

"You put in all that work, you experience all the ups and downs, (but now) you stand at the start line and you can trust the powers above that they are going to make sure everyone at that start line is going to have to face a pretty strict testing regime," Willis said.

It was important for kids in the future to know that it was worth putting in the hard miles " and they got a chance as well just like I have".

"Perhaps the biggest thing for me is that if I am awarded second place, it means the only room I have for improvement is the gold ... in London especially.

" From my point of view, if I have already won a silver, there really is no place to aim for but for first place - so that will keep me accountable when I am training ... leaving no stone unturned to keep that mindset to make sure I am ready at the start line in 2012 to have a chance of achieving that goal."

Willis has had a quiet year while recovering from hip surgery earlier this year.

He said he was ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation.

The Wellington runner was looking forward to returning next month and would test his progress in a couple of domestic races in the New Year.

- NZPA