New York, UNITED STATES, January 8 (Reuters) - Olivera Jevtic of Yugoslavia, the third-place finisher in the 2002 New York City Marathon, was disqualified and stripped of her $45,000 prize money on Wednesday after testing positive for a banned drug.
Race organizers, the New York Road Runners, said Jevtic, 25, was found guilty of using ephedrine by the Yugoslavian Federation acting in accordance with the rules of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
"We are saddened to have to make this announcement for Olivera on what seems to have been an innocent mistake, but heartened by the fact that the procedures put into place by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and USA Track and Field are very much working," said race director Allan Steinfeld.
Jevtic, who was making her marathon debut, loses winnings of $45,000, comprising $30,000 for her third-place finish and a $15,000 time bonus.
The revised results for the November 3 race won by Kenyan Joyce Chepchumba will see her compatriot Esther Kiplagat move up to third with American Marla Runyan (news - external web site) fourth.
Runyan's fourth-place finish equals the best showing by an American woman at the five-borough race since Kim Jones in 1996.
Russia's Lyubov Denisova finished second.
A press statement said the Yugoslav Federation gave Jevtic a public warning but did not suspend her from any future competition.
All prize money will be adjusted accordingly.
