BEIJING — Reigning world champion Gerd Kanter of Estonia has won the gold medal in the men’s discus throw at the Beijing Olympics.

Kanter hit the front with his fourth attempt at 68.82 meters (225 feet, 9 inches) in Tuesday’s final.

Piotr Malachowski of Poland took the silver at 67.82 meters (222-6) and Virgilijus Alekna of Lithuania, the two-time world and Olympic champion, won the bronze at 67.79 (222-5).

Hungarian Robert Fazekas, who was stripped of the gold medal at Athens 2004 for a doping violation after throwing 70.93 (232-8), placed eighth. He returned to competition in 2006 after serving a two-year ban.