Australian sprinter Torrie Lewis has been awarded a gold medal more than 18 months after a world titles race, following the disqualification of the original winner for doping. The Athletics Integrity Unit confirmed that Adaejah Hodge of the British Virgin Islands tested positive for banned substances at the 2024 World U20 Championships in Lima, Peru.
Lewis, the Australian record holder in the 100m, has been upgraded to the gold medal position in the 200m. Hodge had won the race in 22.74 seconds, with Lewis finishing second in a personal best of 22.88. Fellow Australian Jessica Milat has also been upgraded to a bronze medal in the same event after placing fourth.
Hodge received a two-year ban, with seven months suspended, and was eligible to return to competition in January 2025. She has since returned, setting national records and winning titles in the NCAA. The AIU determined her ingestion of the prohibited substances was unintentional, but her results from the period have been disqualified.
Lewis, 21, broke her own national 100m record last year with a time of 11.08 seconds at the world championships. She expressed her delight on Instagram, saying she is now the 2024 U20 200m world champion.
