‘Give Them Something’: Track and Field World Raging in Fury as Doping Led Team USA Losing Medal for Over a Decade

In a shocking revelation that has sent ripples of anger throughout the global track and field community, Team USA lost a medal earned over a decade ago due to doping allegations. Ekaterina Poistogova-Guliyev faces a two-year ban and risks losing her 2012 Olympics silver medal if she doesn’t appeal, according to the Athletics Integrity Unit. If Poistogova-Guliyev loses her silver, Pamela Jelimo of Kenya would get the silver, and Alysia Montaño of the United States would move up to bronze.

For Alysia Montaño, receiving her first Olympic medal was a moment of celebration. This should have happened 12 years earlier, amidst a packed stadium, with her family proudly watching from the stands. The ceremony has been postponed due to uncertainty and this is due to the disqualification of some athletes for a doping violation. This led fans casting a shadow over the integrity of the sport and raising questions about fair competition.

Though a medal is won; history is lost

Recently r/olympics shared CNN sport’s post on Reddit with the caption, “Imagine placing 5th and then getting your Olympic Medal 12 years later… why doping really hurts everyone.” It took 12 years for the medal to come to Johnson and that happiness is not seen in her. After learning she might receive a bronze medal, Montaño went through a rollercoaster of emotions, from joy to sadness to a sense of grief. The 38-year-old Montaño explains, “You can’t ever get that back.” Montaño highlighted the tangible losses of history, the moment, support from loved ones, and the homecoming parade. She described her supposed triumph as, “A stab in the gut, in the heart, really, I kind of felt a sinking feeling, to be honest”. 

Imagine placing 5th and then getting your Olympic Medal 12 years later… why doping really hurts everyone.
byu/Ok-Calm-Narwhal inolympics

Johnson Montano knew something was wrong; she had informed her husband after the race that some of the women were doping, but she went silent at the time because she didn’t have any proof. But when WADA’s Independent Commission got hold of the Russian Athletics Federation engaged in a systematic, state-supported doping campaign. She said, “I knew what that meant. I cried. Looking back, I don’t even know what emotions I was feeling—perhaps all of them. The more I read the report, the more the truth sank.” Her love for running remains no matter what affects her; she believes that sports have a positive and powerful influence. Fans of Montano are disappointed and angry with the community as her 12-year career was snatched from her.

Track and field fans rally behind Alysia Montaño

Fans and supporters of Johnson Montano stood by her and reacted with anger for the delay of her much-deserved medal. Fans are overwhelmingly in favor of a medal ceremony for Montano, with one passionate supporter commenting, “They should give them a medal ceremony during the next games, properly honor them. You can never turn back time but you can give them something.” Despite their frustrations with doping issues, another fan expressed support for a medal ceremony, stating, “Doping is infuriating. It must be so bad being a clean athlete knowing that other athletes will be doping and may not get caught.” Acknowledging the judgments against Russian athletes, another fan emphasized Montano, remarking, “But it’s fine though, at least we didn’t punish the Russian athletes too hastily despite decades of documented doping violations.”

Feeling remorseful about the situation, another fan expressed their sentiments, saying, “It’s certainly great when people get recognized, even years later, with medals they should’ve won but didn’t because someone else cheated. However, they’ll likely never recoup the lost income from sponsors and other deals that come with winning a medal during the actual games which is a shame.” Highlighting concerns about corruption in sports, one fan compared the situations in different countries, stating, “Between the doping in China and Russia along with WADA’s corruption the USADA will likely win.” 

But the good news is, Montaño hopes to receive her Olympic medal at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, with family, friends, supporters and sponsors there to witness the moment.