Fourcade Claims Gold Amid Doping Scandal

Martin Fourcade, a retired French biathlon champion, has been awarded a gold medal from the 2010 Vancouver Games following the reallocation of Evgeny Ustyugov's medals due to doping violations. The International Olympic Committee's decision came after lengthy legal proceedings, affecting numerous athletes and nations.

Martin Fourcade, France's retired multiple Olympic biathlon champion, has received a gold medal upgrade from the 2010 Vancouver Games. This reallocation follows the International Olympic Committee's announcement on Friday regarding Russian Evgeny Ustyugov's doping violations, which resulted in changes to numerous medal standings.

During the 2014 Sochi Games, Ustyugov won a relay gold and a mass start gold, which now shifts to Fourcade. Slovakia's Pavol Hurajt secures silver in the mass start, Austria's Christoph Sumann claims bronze, and Sweden receives the Vancouver relay bronze.

The doping scandal, casting a shadow on recent Olympic history, sees Russia's Sochi relay gold go to Germany, Austria earning silver, and Norway taking bronze. Ustyugov's appeals against the decision were exhausted in various courts amidst the wider fallout from Russia's state-backed doping program.

(With inputs from agencies.)