That is because the winner of the event in Kazan, Romania's Roxana Birca, tested positive after the race and will be stripped of the gold medal as well as given a two-year ban. 

Golovkina, winner of the European Championships 5,000m last year, finished second in the race and could now be upgraded to first.

But, less than a week later, she tested positive for the anabolic steroid dehydrochlormethyltestosterone in an out-of-competition test and was herself banned for two years.

Others set to benefit from Birca's disqualification are Japan's Ayuko Suzuki and Mai Shoji, who will be upgraded to silver and bronze medals. 

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
October 2013: European 5,000m champion becomes 32nd Russian athlete this year to test positive for drugs