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Dylan Armstrong agonized over the bronze medal lost in Beijing -- not only because he missed it by so little, but because he knew in his heart it was rightfully his. The Canadian thrower is one step closer to getting that shot put bronze medal from the 2008 Beijing Games after Belarusian Andrei Mikhnevich received a lifetime ban for a doping violation. "I worked hard for it, and I want it back," Armstrong told The Canadian Press in a phone interview. The 32-year-old from Kamloops, B.C., missed a medal by less than a centimetre -- about the width of a dime -- at the 2008 Games. And while nothing will replace that moment lost, Armstrong said "I just have to turn this whole thing around and turn it into a positive thing. Yes, its unfortunate it happened that way. But its still a medal coming my way so thats the most important thing. "Its my countrys medal too, we deserve it." There have been times a frustrated Armstrong has wanted to scream out to the world about the drug cheats in his sport, he admitted -- that night at Beijings Birds Nest Stadium notwithstanding. "Especially when you know its going on, and theres nothing you can do," the thrower said from Szcsecin, Poland, where hell compete in a meet Saturday. "A lot of the general public doesnt really know whats going on in the whole game. "Doping, its in sport. Theres obviously going to be those people willing to cheat for financial success, and financial rewards in those countries are quite big, you can pretty well be taken care of for life." Armstrong first heard bronze was within his grasp in March when Mikhnevich was suspended after renewed tests from the 2005 world championships in Helsinki. It was the Belarusians second doping offence, which comes with an automatic lifetime ban, effectively wiping out all his results past that time. Still, Armstrong was thrilled when he was in the Amsterdam airport Thursday morning and read on Twitter that the Belarusian Athletics Federation had suspended the drug cheat. "The wheels have started turning," said Armstrong, whose bronze would be Canadas first-ever Olympic medal in shot put. "Im extremely happy, its been a little bit of a roller-coaster since March, just waiting and seeing whats going to develop. But Im pretty delighted to see the IAAF (the world governing body for track and field) has really stepped up their testing and taken greater responsibility with this in trying to catch athletes. And not even the athletes, but federations that are involved in some of this. "Im just happy the IAAF and WADA is finally really starting to nail down these guys." Armstrong is also in position for a 2010 world indoor championship bronze, since Mikhnevich took silver at that event while Armstrong finished fourth. Hell likely get the world indoor medal first as it only needs rubber stamping from the IAAF. The Olympic bronze needs to go through both the IAAF and the International Olympic Committee. Armstrong, who was ranked No. 1 in the world in 2011, said hes proud of the fact he can be a positive role model for other athletes -- proof that competing clean can eventually pay off. "Youre going to get caught, and were really seeing that in the world today," he said. "Some of these athletes who have taken that route, its all coming back to haunt them now. It would not be a fun experience. It doesnt pay to cheat. Just train hard and be dedicated and really want it, and big things can come." Charmaine Crooks, a five-time Olympian in track and field and member of the IOCs athletes commission, said the Belarusians lifetime suspension renews the message about the need to remain strong against doping in sport. "This is a clear message that the system is working," Crooks said. "This is a great day not only for Dylan Armstrong, but also for all of Canada to be able to celebrate in this upgrade in this medal." Athletics Canada chairman Gordon Orlikow added: "We feel this is a vindication of everything were supposed to be doing together." Athletics Canada officials are unclear how soon Armstrong might receive his medal. It took nearly two-and-a-half years before Canadian cross-country skier Beckie Scott received her 2002 Olympic gold medal following the disqualification for doping of the gold and silver medallists. American shot putter Adam Nelson however received the 2004 Olympic gold four months after the original Athens champion Yuriy Bilonog of Ukraine was caught in a re-test. Armstrong, meanwhile, said hes finally at full health after he was plagued by an elbow injury last season, finishing a disappointing fifth at last summers London Olympics. "My mind is fresh and I feel really great," he said. "I took a lot of time off, probably the most time Ive taken off in 15 years. Just went on a few vacations, relaxed and let my elbow heal. Things are starting to come around." The six-foot-four thrower will compete next Wednesday at a meet outside Warsaw, then fly home for the Canadian championships in just over a week in Moncton. Mikhnevich was one of six athletes caught in the re-test from 2005, and the IAAF and WADA have vowed to continue investigating past results. The other five athletes caught were Belarusian shot putter Nazdeya Ostapchuk, hammer throwers Ivan Tsikhan and Vadim Devyatovsky of Belarus, Russian hammer thrower Olga Kuzenkova, and Russian long jumper Tatyana Kotova.JJ Arcega-Whiteside Womens Jersey .Y. -- Canadas Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse have another World Cup gold medal after winning the two-women bobsled race on Saturday in Lake Placid, N. Wilbert Montgomery Youth Jersey . Having already announced that the race will start May 9 with three stages in Northern Ireland and Ireland and finish in Trieste on June 1, the rest of the route was unveiled Monday. http://www.theeaglesfootballauthentic.com/eagles-shareef-miller-black-jersey/ . The Barrie Colts defenceman, who impressed many with his play for Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship, is the top-ranked skater in the February rankings. He has 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points in 45 games with the Colts this season. Ron Jaworski Eagles Jersey . The third-ranked Ivanovic, who won the event in 2008 and 10, served five aces and broke Wickmayer, also a former winner in 2009, five times. "The result looked easier than it really was," Ivanovic said. Clayton Thorson Jersey . -- Edmontons Val Sweeting is two wins away from a trip to Winnipeg to play in Canadas Road of the Rings in December.ST. LOUIS -- Felipe Rivero thought he had strike three. Not quite.Rivero was walking toward the Pittsburgh dugout when the pitch to Jedd Gyorko was called a ball. Three pitches later, Gyorko launched a solo home run in the eighth inning that lifted the St. Louis Cardinals over the Pirates 4-3 on Saturday.I think he had strike three and sometimes they dont get called, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. I think that was the situation that happened.Rivero (1-6) said the call by plate umpire Alfonso Marquez didnt affect his composure.Thats something you cant control, Rivero said. Youve got to focus and keep throwing strikes.The Cardinals pushed the NL wild-card race to the final day of the regular season.Jung Ho Kangs three-run homer in the first off Michael Wacha was his sixth home run against the Cardinals this season. Kangs eight career homers and 21 RBI against St. Louis are his most against any team in the majors.He swung the bat very well against St. Louis. Some of the games hes hit two, Hurdle said. We could have used another one today.Pirates starter Chad Kuhl struck out five and gave up two runs in five-plus innings. The rookie right-hander was able to slow down his pace to work out of a couple of jams in the first and second inning.He went into the four corners defense just holding the ball, and then was making quality pitches, which I do think was disrupting hitters timing, Hurdle said. We havent seen that out of him and I know they havent seen that out of him.Gyorko became the first Cardinals player to hit 30 homers in a season since Carlos Beltran in 2012, with 23 of those coming after the All-Star break..dddddddddddd.Jedds been so impressive, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. I mean 30, thats without even being in there every single day.The Cardinals tied it with a three-run sixth, highlighted by Matt Hollidays RBI pinch-hit single. Holliday homered on Friday night after the Cardinals said they wouldnt pick up his $17 million option.Kevin Siegrist (6-3) pitched a scoreless eighth. Seung Hwan Oh stranded runners at second and third for his 19th save in 22 opportunities.We had to have extra ordinary effort from our bullpen today and that was just impressive from beginning to end and all the way through, Matheny said. Just overall a great effort from the entire team.JUST MAKING SURECardinals SS Aledmys Diaz hit a ball in the bottom of the first to the same part of the left field wall where Yadier Molinas game-winning double went on Thursday. Originally called a ground-rule double, umpire crew chief Larry Vanover called for a review, which confirmed the call.TRAINERS ROOMPirates: Starling Marte (back) was out of the lineup and isnt expected to play in the season finale on Sunday.UP NEXTPirates: RHP Ryan Vogelsong (3-7, 5.00 ERA) is one strikeout away from No. 900 in his career. He is 3-7 with a 6.02 ERA in 23 career appearances (12 starts) against St. Louis.Cardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright (13-9, 4.67 ERA) has failed to make it through six innings in four of his last five starts, but he earned the win on four of them. He is 13-7 with a 4.26 ERA in 32 career appearances against Pittsburgh. ' ' '