Lynsey Sharp broke down in tears yesterday after learning she is poised to claim the 800 metres title from last year's European Championships in Helsinki.

Winner Yelena Arzhakova, of Russia, was found to have abnormal haemoglobin levels in her blood. Under IAAF rules, the 23-year-old will have all her results from 2011 onwards nullified once her two-year ban is ratified.

That means a promotion from European silver to gold for Scot Sharp, who will also be upgraded retrospectively from third to second from the 2011 European Under-23 championships, which were also won by the disgraced Arzhakova.

Yet the Olympic semi-finalist, who is currently training in the United States, will forever regret losing the chance to savour her finest hour to date.

Sharp said: "It makes me sick that I was denied the opportunity to do a lap of honour and stand on top of the podium with my national anthem playing."

If the upgrade is ratified by European Athletics, the 22-year-old law graduate will become the 13th Scottish athlete to claim a European title and the first since Dougie Walker won the 200m in 1998.

"Who knows, it might be the only chance she ever has to top a podium at a major international event like the European Championships," said Sharp's mother Carol, a former international athlete. "It may not – we don't know that yet – but you do feel bitter that you have been robbed of that moment."

Another Russian, Olympic discus silver medallist Darya Pishchalnikova, will likely lose her silver medal from London after landing a ten-year suspension for testing positive for an anabolic steroid.