Denise Lewis says heptathlon has been 'spoilt' by Ukrainian drugs cheat

FORMER Olympic champion Denise Lewis claims the Beijing heptathlon has been "spoilt" by Lyudmila Blonska's positive drugs test.

The Ukrainian athlete, who won silver in the women's heptathlon at the weekend, is facing disciplinary action after failing a doping test.

It is understood Blonska, who has already previously served a two-year ban for drugs, tested positive for an anabolic steroid.

Lewis, who won gold at the Sydney Games of 2000 and expressed her "complete and utter joy" at Blonska's downfall, said: "She's been caught once before. I'm all for giving people one more chance but it's obvious that if you're going to cheat you probably will always be a cheat, and I'm glad she'll be gone from the sport for good.

"It leaves a bitter taste in my mouth considering the girls give everything in the heptathlon.

"She shouldn't have been taking part in the heptathlon and good riddance.

"She won silver in Osaka last year, so hopefully her name will be got out of the (record) books.

"You would think she'd learn her lesson but obviously the temptation, whether it's the money, it attracts these people to cheating.

"It's utterly disgusting and it's spoilt the heptathlon for me."

The case is expected to come before the IOC's disciplinary commission and executive board, which meet tomorrow.

After Blonska's silver medal, Britain's Kelly Sotherton, who finished fifth in the event, called for a worldwide policy to prevent drug cheats from returning to compete in the Olympics.

Lewis told BBC Radio Five Live: "Kelly will have been bitterly disappointed, even though I know it doesn't affect her – she will feel justified in her public comments about Blonska in the last couple of years."

The IOC have refused to confirm the positive finding, saying in a statement: "The IOC does not comment, or provide information, on any doping cases until a decision is made by either the disciplinary commission or executive board."

Blonska, 30, was given a two-year ban in 2003 after testing positive for steroids. If the latest positive test is confirmed by the IOC tomorrow then she could be given a lifetime ban.

Sotherton said early this week: "I'm not happy she competed again. We have rules in our country that we abide by. We don't bring anybody who cheated previously, so why should any other country?

"I'd have been really upset if she'd won gold. The penalty you should pay if you take drugs is not to compete at the Olympics."

Under usual IOC procedure, Blonska will be stripped of her silver medal and her accreditation for the Games withdrawn.

It would mean the USA's Hyleas Fountain moving up to silver, Russia's Tatiana Chernova moving up to bronze, and Sotherton's official finishing position being fourth.