Vadim Devyatovskiy

2.1. Junior and Early International Competitions

Devyatovsky began his international career in junior championships, quickly establishing himself as a promising talent. He placed 5th at the 1994 World Junior Championships held in Lisbon, Portugal, with a throw of 212 ft ^{(64.7 m)}. Two years later, at the 1996 World Junior Championships in Sydney, Australia, he secured a silver medal with a throw of 233 ft ^{(70.88 m)}. He continued to perform well in the junior ranks, finishing 4th at the 1999 European U23 Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden, with a distance of 241 ft ^{(73.34 m)}.

2.2. Olympic and World Championship Medals

Devyatovsky's senior career saw him compete at the highest levels of international athletics. At the 2003 World Championships in Paris, France, he finished 7th with a throw of 256 ft ^{(78.13 m)}. He narrowly missed an Olympic medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, where he placed 4th with 259 ft ^{(78.82 m)}. In the same year, he took 5th place at the World Athletics Final in Szombathely, Hungary, throwing 251 ft ^{(76.54 m)}.

In 2005, Devyatovsky won a silver medal at the World Championships with a throw of 271 ft ^{(82.6 m)}. This medal was later stripped in March 2013 following a doping re-examination. Additionally, in the same year, he won gold at the 2005 Summer Universiade in İzmir, Turkey, and secured a silver medal at the World Athletics Final in Szombathely with a throw of 259 ft ^{(78.98 m)}.

His strong performances continued in 2006, where he earned a silver medal at the European Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden, with a throw of 265 ft ^{(80.76 m)}. He also placed 5th at the World Athletics Final in Stuttgart, Germany, reaching 258 ft ^{(78.67 m)}. In 2007, he finished 4th at the World Championships in Osaka, Japan, with 268 ft ^{(81.57 m)}, and again 5th at the World Athletics Final in Stuttgart, with 255 ft ^{(77.81 m)}.

The pinnacle of his career came at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, where he originally won a silver medal with a throw of 268 ft ^{(81.61 m)}. This medal was initially stripped due to doping allegations but later reinstated following a successful appeal.

2.3. Personal Best

Vadim Devyatovsky achieved his personal best in the hammer throw on 21 July 2005, with a remarkable distance of 279 ft ^{(84.9 m)}. This throw established him as one formidable competitor in the sport.

3.1. Initial Suspension (2000-2002)

Devyatovsky's first doping violation occurred in 2000. As a result, he was suspended from all athletic competition by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) from 18 September 2000, to 17 September 2002. This two-year ban marked an early setback in his professional career.

3.2. 2008 Beijing Olympics Doping Case and Medal Reinstatement

The most prominent doping controversy involving Devyatovsky arose following the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. On 4 September 2008, it was reported that Devyatovsky and his fellow Belarusian hammer thrower and bronze medalist, Ivan Tsikhan, were under investigation by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for doping offenses. In December 2008, the IOC concluded that Devyatovsky was guilty of a doping violation and decided to strip him of his silver medal.

Devyatovsky immediately appealed the IOC's decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). On 10 June 2010, CAS ruled in his favor, granting his appeal for the reinstatement of his original competition results and the return of his silver medal. The CAS decision was based on procedural and documentation errors committed by the Beijing National Laboratory, which had conducted the doping tests. CAS found that the laboratory had violated international "documentation and reporting requirements," including an unexplained interruption of the automated testing procedure for the IRMS instruments and a breach of international standards by allowing the same analyst to test both the "A" and "B" samples.

While the CAS ruling reinstated his medal, the court explicitly stated that the decision "should not be interpreted as an exoneration of the athletes," indicating that the court did not declare the athletes free of all doping suspicion. However, it confirmed that the laboratory's significant departures from international standards justified the annulment of the test results for both Devyatovsky and Tsikhan. This landmark decision highlighted the importance of strict adherence to testing protocols in anti-doping efforts.

4.1. Coaching Career

Since 2008, Devyatovsky has taken on a coaching role, focusing on developing other hammer throwers. He notably coached Ellina Anissimova, an Estonian hammer thrower, providing guidance and expertise to the next generation of athletes.

4.2. Statements on Belarusian Protests

Vadim Devyatovsky gained significant public attention for his strong political statements during the 2020-21 Belarusian protests, which arose in opposition to the government of Alexander Lukashenko. On 21 August 2020, at the height of the protests, Devyatovsky posted a message on his personal Facebook page unequivocally stating, "Lukashenko is not my President!!!!!" In this powerful statement, he also confessed that his previous support for the regime was a "delusion" and a "betrayal of myself." This public denouncement from a former national athlete and figure of some prominence resonated with many, signaling a shift in allegiance from the establishment to the protest movement. His comments provided a visible example of an individual publicly rejecting the authoritarian leadership, challenging the government's narrative, and aligning himself with the broader public desire for democratic change and human rights.