MEDAL TAKEN BACK The Associated Press The Assoc
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MEDAL TAKEN BACK
The Associated Press The Associated Press
As the gold medals get handed out in London, some gold from Athens 2004 is about to be taken back.
An Olympic official familiar with the case tells The Associated Press that the IOC is set to formally strip American cyclist Tyler Hamilton of his gold from the 2004 games. The medals, the official says, will be reassigned after Hamilton's admission of doping.
With the eight-year deadline approaching, the official says the IOC executive board will meet Friday to readjust the standings from the road race time trial and award the gold to retired Russian rider Viatcheslav Ekimov.
The official is speaking on condition of anonymity because the decision hasn't been announced yet.
After years of denials, Hamilton told CBS's "60 Minutes" last year that he had repeatedly used performance-enhancing drugs.
The gold will now go to Ekimov, a former teammate of Hamilton and Lance Armstrong. American Bobby Julich will be moved up from bronze to silver, and Michael Rogers of Australia from fourth to bronze.
_ Stephen Wilson _ Twitter: http://twitter.com/stevewilsonap
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EDITOR'S NOTE _ "Eyes on London" shows you the Olympics through the eyes of Associated Press journalists across the 2012 Olympic city and around the world. Follow them on Twitter where available with the handles listed after each item.
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