Afghan earns nation's first medal

BEIJING -- In Rohullah Nikpai's war-torn country, fighting is a part of life. Living in tough conditions is a given. Training for the Olympics is a luxury few can afford, or even imagine.

But Nikpai has proven it can be done: On Wednesday he won Afghanistan's first Olympic medal ever, taking bronze in men's under-58 kilogram taekwondo event.

For his accomplishment, Nikpai will be given a house at the government's expense, presidential spokesman Humayun Hamidzada said, and a $50,000 prize from a mobile phone company in Afghanistan.

UKRAINIAN MEDALIST IN DOPING PROBE: Lyudmila Blonska of Ukraine is under investigation for a positive doping test and could be stripped of her silver medal in the heptathlon.

The International Olympic Committee said Wednesday it has opened a disciplinary procedure into Blonska, who finished second behind fellow Ukrainian Nataliia Dobrynska last Saturday.

If found guilty of a doping offense, the 30-year-old Blonska would lose her medal and be expelled from the games.

Blonska is also competing in the long jump and was third in qualifying ahead of Friday's final. Her place in that event is now in jeopardy.

BITING BOXER: Dzhakhon Kurbanov, the light heavyweight from Tajikistan who bit his opponent on the shoulder in a quarterfinal bout, won't face additional sanctions or suspension by the International Boxing Association (AIBA).

Spokesman Richard Baker said Wednesday that Kurbanov's disqualification from the Olympic tournament will be his only punishment for the incident, which occurred with 17 seconds left in the third round of his bout with Kazakhstan's Yerkebulan Shynaliyev.