Athletics: Paralympian Mariia Pomazan refuses to attend rearranged medal ceremony after scoring blunder sees her stripped of gold

The Ukrainian athlete who was ordered to give back her discus gold medal
because of a scoring blunder did not turn up to the rearranged ceremony
at the Olympic Stadium this morning.

Mariia Pomazan stayed away in apparent protest as the gold she had been presented with on Friday was awarded to China's Wu Qing.

Pomazan was demoted to silver and the place on the podium reserved for the second-placed athlete remained empty.

The 23-year-old admitted yesterday she was "very, very angry" after losing her gold in the F35/36 class, with organisers announcing the wrong medals had been awarded. Points rather than distance determined the final standings in the combined-class event.

She revealed those feelings had been behind her shot put gold yesterday.

All three athletes who received medals on Friday were asked to return them, with an appeal by the Ukrainian National Paralympic Committee for the original result to stand rejected by the jury of appeal.

An International Paralympic Committee spokesman said: "Since Friday we have tried to investigate if an alternative could be found that suited all parties that was within the rules. This has not been possible."

Oscar Pistorius did turn up to receive his T44 200m silver medal.

The South African, who has apologised for the timing of his criticism of the running blades used by gold medallist Alan Fonteles Oliveira immediately after last night's race, was applauded on to the podium by the Brazilian.

Both athletes received a standing ovation from the crowd and they shook hands and shared a somewhat awkward embrace afterward.

PA