Laura Muir Hopes Retrospective Medal Sends Message to Dopers

British athlete Laura Muir has expressed her hope that the retrospective award of her 2015 European Athletics Indoor Championships bronze medal, nine years after the event, will convey a clear message to individuals involved in doping that they will face consequences. Muir, who was 21 at the time, originally placed fourth in the 3,000m event held in Prague. Her upgrade to the bronze medal occurred in January, following the conviction of the original race winner, Russia’s Yelena Korobkina, for doping violations. At 31 years old, Muir formally received her medal during the Lindsays Short Course cross-country event, which took place in Kirkcaldy on Saturday. “It’s better late then never. It’s an odd feeling but lovely to have so many friends and family here too,” Muir stated. She added, “When people are held accountable it hopefully sends a message [doping] is unacceptable and hopefully people in the end will get the results they deserve.” Muir also commented, “It’s a shame you have to wait a long period of time. It would have been my first international medal and I didn’t get the chance to get the medal and stand on the podium.” She concluded, “But I’m very grateful I’ve got it now.” As a result of the disqualification, Sviatlana Kudzelich of Belarus saw her silver medal elevated to gold, while Maureen Koster from the Netherlands was advanced to the silver position. Korobkina received a four-year ban commencing in September 2023, and all her competitive results from July 2013 to July 2016 were nullified following her doping conviction last year.