Eşref Apak

Esref Apak is a Turkish hammer thrower born on January 3, 1982, in Kalecik, Ankara. Standing 185 cm tall and weighing 115 kg, he studied physical education and sports at Gazi University in Ankara while competing for Fenerbahce Athletics and later Enkaspor under coach Artun Talay.

Apak competed at the 2004 Athens Olympics, finishing fourth with a throw of 79.51 metres. Following doping-related disqualifications of higher-placed athletes, he was moved up to second place behind Japan's Koji Murofushi, but the IOC declined to award his silver medal due to his subsequent suspension. He won gold at the 2005 Mediterranean Games in Almeria.

Apak is married to sprinter Sema Aydemir, and the couple has a son named Ali. His career was interrupted by a two-year doping ban from June 2013 to June 2015 for the prohibited substance Stanozolol.