BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - JAMAICAN Sprint sensation Usain Bolt has been stripped of his 2008 Relay 4x100m gold medal after teammate Nesta Carter was found to have used “the prohibited substance methylhexaneamine”.
Carter was one of two names that were published today (Jan. 25) by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the other being Tatiana Lebedeva of Russia after they had their B samples tested and confirmed the initial result.
As was reported by SKNVibes Sports last year, Carter had tested positive but had his B sample sent for retesting.
According to the release from the IOC published on its website, “The protection of clean athletes and the fight against doping are top priorities for the International Olympic Committee, as outlined in the OLYMPIC AGENDA 2020”.
Further, the statement indicates that the IOC had put a special measure in place to include targeted pre-tests and the re-analysis of stored samples from the Olympic Games in Beijing 2008 and London 2012.
“As part of this process, the IOC today announced that two athletes have been disqualified from the Olympic Games Beijing 2008.”
The IOC Disciplinary Commission, in handing down the decision, said:
I. The Athlete, Nesta CARTER:
i. is found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation pursuant to the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing in 2008,
ii. is disqualified from the men’s 4x100m relay event in which he participated upon the occasion of the Olympic Games Beijing 2008,
iii. has the medal, the medallist pin and the diploma obtained in the men’s 4x100m relay event withdrawn and is ordered to return same.
II. The Jamaican team is disqualified from the men’s 4x100m relay event. The corresponding medals, medallist pins and diplomas are withdrawn and shall be returned.
III. The IAAF is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned event accordingly and to consider any further action within its own competence.
IV. The Jamaica Olympic Association shall ensure full implementation of this decision.
V. The Jamaica Olympic Association shall notably secure the return to the IOC, as soon as possible, of the medals, the medallist pins and the diplomas awarded in connection with the men’s 4x100m relay event to the Athlete and his teammates.
VI. This decision enters into force immediately.
The legendary sprinter Bolt is expected to retire from the Track and Field within the next two years and many sports enthusiasts believe that this could overshadow his illustrious sprint career.
Trinidad’s relay team will now be bumped up to first position and is to receive all the Gold medals and perks which come with the territory.
It is expected that Bolt and his team would return all medals to the IOC, along with all that they had received as gold medalists.
