Su Bingtian (left) and Xie Zhenye compete in the men's 4x100 meters semifinals on Thursday. Photo: Xinhua

The Chinese men's relay team has been confirmed by the World Athletics, formerly known as the IAAF, on its official website on Monday to be the rightful holder of the bronze medal in men's 4x100 meters relay at the Tokyo Olympic Games following Team Britain was stripped of its silver due to member CJ Ujah's doping violation incident. 

The new bronze medalist, the Chinese men's team that consists of four members including Su Bingtian, Xie Zhenye, Wu Zhiqiang and Tang Xingqiang who came in fourth and missed the podium in the original competition held in August 2021 in Tokyo. Italy, Britain and Canada were the original medalists. 

The news of China claiming the bronze medalist soon became a trending topic viewed by more than 88 million of fans on Sina Weibo, with many believing that China deserves this medal more than ever. 

"It was nothing like China was picked up the medal since someone lost it, because the ethics of sports is always a part of any competitions, especially the Olympics. To be able to rank at as the top places by following sport's rules, this shows China is capable in this game," Wang Dazhao, a sport insider in Beijing, told the Global Times. 

"The honor came late, but the history will always be documented," posted a netizen.

Given the happiness shared by fans in China was some others seen the incident may have been the "biggest doping scandal in British Olympic history," according to British newspaper The Guardian.

The result of the event was further cast into doubt in February 2022 when the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) made official announcement to confirm the British sprinter Ujah violated anti-doping rules. 

Ujah, Britain's Olympic sprint's lead-off runner, has been provisionally suspended for an alleged doping violation after the competition following the testing positive for two banned substances S-23 and Enobosarm. 

Ujah's confirmed circumstance has almost defined a total failure of Team Britain at the men's 4x100 competition in Japan since the medals, points, prizes and certificates of the whole squad will be eliminated. 

The case has also been seen by some others as an "unchangeable stain" on the British Team. 

"The major loss to Team Britain is the ruined reputation, not only the athletes but also the related associations in the country. It is unchangeable once it happened, and is a stain forever," Wang explained.

"Also the rule-challenging athlete himself will be eyed and continually 'followed' to encounter with more frequent doping testing than others."

The latest laurel has also updated Team China's whole Tokyo Olympic medal tally to 89 medals altogether. 

The bronze medal is expected to be reissued through the Chinese Olympic Committee after the International Olympic Committee's final confirmation. The ceremony will aim to take place within 12 months, or at the next Olympic Games, according to China's National Track and Field Team. 

Fans online also sent congratulations to superstar sprinter Su, who is part of the squad and made the history in men's 100 meters sprint during the Tokyo Games.

"Another honor for God Su [fans' given nickname to Su], hope this can encourage him and all our Chinese athletes to be even more outstanding in future," posted a netizen.