InsideJapan News Network

Japan could be in line for a surprise extra Olympic bronze medal after two athletes tested positive for drugs.

Hammer throwers Vadim Devyatovskiy and Ivan Tsikhan - both from Belarus - tested positive for performance enhancing drugs and face being stripped of their respective silver and bronze medals as a result.

In the event of that happening, Japan's Koji Murofushi, who came fifth in the tournament, would pick up the bronze medal, reports the Mainichi Daily News.

Tomiaki Fukuda of the Japanese Olympic Committee told the newspaper: "An increase in medals is good news for Japan, but I'm rather shocked and disappointed. If this happens every time, hammer throwing will face the danger of losing its credibility."

Murofushi was awarded gold at the 2004 Olympics in Athens after the Hungarian Adrian Annus was disqualified for a positive drugs test.

Japan came eighth in the Olympic medals table winning nine golds, six silvers and ten silvers.



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