Lynsey Sharp’s gold as Arzhakova disqualified

Great Britain’s Lynsey Sharp is officially a European champion after the 800m silver medal she won in Helsinki last year was formally upgraded to a gold.

Sharp finished second behind Russia’s Yelena Arzhakova in the European Championship final, but her rival was subsequently banned for two years for doping.

European Athletics have now amended their records to show the Scot as the winner, with Arzhakova listed as disqualified.

Sharp posted a link to the governing body’s revised timesheet on her Twitter account yesterday and wrote: “It’s official now the results have been changed!!”

UK Athletics has previously discussed plans to make a medal presentation to Sharp at a home meeting this summer.

Meanwhile, Usain Bolt will make his European season debut at tomorrow’s Golden Gala meeting in Rome and yesterday reiterated his desire to add to his Olympic medal haul. “I have pretty much four more years I think personally, in the sport, so now it is all about dominating for those four years,” he said.