2012 European Athletics Championships – Women's 800 metres

The women's 800 metres at the 2012 European Athletics Championships was held at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium on 28 and 29 June.

Women's 800 metres at the European Athletics Championships

On 30 April 2013, it was announced that the original winner of the gold medal, Elena Arzhakova had been suspended for two years from January 2013 for a doping violation, and was to be stripped of all results gained since July 11, 2011. When ratified, this would mean Arzhakova being stripped of her gold medal, which would then be awarded to Lynsey Sharp. Irina Maracheva and Maryna Arzamasava would also each be awarded an upgraded medal.^[1]

On 4 June 2013, this reallocation of medals was confirmed, and Lynsey Sharp declared European champion.^[2]

On 25 January 2016, it was announced that the new silver medalist, Irina Maracheva had also been found guilty of doping changes as a result of her blood passport. As a result, in due course Maracheva will be stripped of her result, Arzamasava promoted again, this time into silver and Lilyia Lobanova, original placed fifth, will be awarded the bronze medal.^[3]

Medalists

Gold	Lynsey Sharp Great Britain
Silver	Maryna Arzamasava Belarus
Bronze	Liliya Lobanova Ukraine

These are the revised medal standings following the adverse drugs finding against original winner Elena Arzhakova.

Records

Standing records prior to the 2012 European Athletics Championships
World record	Jarmila Kratochvílová (TCH)	1:53.28	Munich, West Germany	26 July 1983
European record	Jarmila Kratochvílová (TCH)	1:53.28	Munich, West Germany	26 July 1983
Championship record	Olga Mineyeva (URS)	1:55.41	Athens, Greece	8 September 1982
World Leading	Pamela Jelimo (KEN)	1:56.94	Doha, Qatar	11 May 2012
European Leading	Irina Maracheva (RUS)	1:57.82	Sochi, Russia	27 May 2012

Schedule

Date	Time	Round
28 June 2012	19:05	Round 1
29 June 2012	21:45	Final

Results

Round 1

First 2 in each heat (Q) and 2 best performers (q) advance to the Final.

Rank	Heat	Lane	Name	Nationality	Time	Note
1	2	6	Maryna Arzamasava	Belarus	2:00.54	Q
DQ	1	7	Elena Arzhakova	Russia	2:01.28	Q, Doping
3	2	3	Liliya Lobanova	Ukraine	2:01.60	Q
4	2	7	Jemma Simpson	Great Britain	2:01.64	q
5	1	4	Lynsey Sharp	Great Britain	2:01.88	Q
6	1	6	Natalija Piliušina	Lithuania	2:02.12	q, PB
7	2	4	Eléni Filándra	Greece	2:02.37
8	1	3	Teodora Kolarova	Bulgaria	2:02.45
DQ	3	4	Irina Maracheva	Russia	2:02.48	Q, Doping
10	3	5	Lucia Klocová	Slovakia	2:02.55	Q
11	3	8	Merve Aydın	Turkey	2:02.81
DQ	1	2	Tetiana Petlyuk	Ukraine	2:04.09	Doping
12	3	6	Ewelina Sętowska-Dryk	Poland	2:04.30
13	2	2	Eglė Balčiūnaitė	Lithuania	2:05.21
14	2	5	Viktoria Tegenfeldt	Sweden	2:05.74
15	3	7	Lenka Masná	Czech Republic	2:05.75
16	3	3	Suvi Selvenius	Finland	2:06.39	SB
17	1	5	Elena Mirela Lavric	Romania	2:11.61
	3	2	Jenny Meadows	Great Britain	DNS

• Elena Arzhakova originally ranked second, prior to disqualification. Irina Maracheva originally ranked ninth, prior to disqualification

Final

Rank	Lane	Name	Nationality	Time	Note
DQ	2	Elena Arzhakova	Russia	1:58.51	Doping
	5	Lynsey Sharp	Great Britain	2:00.52	PB
DQ	1	Irina Maracheva	Russia	2:00.66	Doping
	3	Maryna Arzamasava	Belarus	2:01.02
	4	Liliya Lobanova	Ukraine	2:01.29
4	6	Lucia Klocová	Slovakia	2:01.38
5	8	Jemma Simpson	Great Britain	2:02.14
6	7	Natalija Piliušina	Lithuania	2:06.59