Eleven years after becoming World Junior Champion in USSR colours, Sadova apparently became senior champion for the first time in her fourth World Championship final. Olympic Champion Zvereva, set the pace with a 65.78 qualifier then 67.10 in round 2 of the final. That held first place until the penultimate throw of the fourth round, when Sadova spun her implement out to 68.57, the world’s longest throw of 2001. In the fifth round, Grasu overtook Kelesídou for the bronze.
Unfortunately, the winner failed a doping test for caffeine. The Russian Federation exonerated her and the case was to be referred to the Court of Aribtration for Sport, then in December 2002 the penalty was accepted by all parties. Zvereva, at 40 years 268 days old, therefore became the oldest ever World Champion or medallist.