By Noel ‘Bravo’ Francis, Special to TrackAlerts.Com
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) in a release confirmed that the U.S. men’s Olympic 4x100m relay which finished runners-up to the record-breaking Jamaican team anchored by Usain Bolt has been stripped of its silver medal as a result of Tyson Gay’s doping.
The news came via Patrick Sandusky, the USOC Chief Communications Officer which states “As expected, following USADA’s decision in the Tyson Gay case, the IOC today confirmed that the U.S. team has been disqualified from the 4×100-meter race that was part of the athletics competition at the London 2012 Olympic Games."
Sandusky further said "We will begin efforts to have the medals returned, and support all measures to protect clean athletes."
Tyson Gay failed drug tests in summer 2013 and first used a product that contained a prohibited substance on July 15, 2012, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said, less than three weeks before his first race at the London Olympics. All of his results during that span were disqualified, including the Olympics.
In London, Gay competed on the third leg of the U.S. 4x100m relay team which won silver on Aug. 11, 2012. This means his teammates Trell Kimmons, Justin Gatlin and Ryan Bailey will be stripped of their medals. Additionally, former NFL running back Jeff Demps and Doc Patton now a member of the US coaching staff who also earned medals running in a preliminary heat will lose out as well.
Interestingly, last year, it was first reported that Tyson Gay had returned his silver medal to the U.S. Olympic Committee, but his teammates spent one year wondering if they would keep their medals. Trell Kimmons, who knows that a relay is a team sport had made the following statement last year “If it comes to that point to give that medal up, I can’t speak for the rest of the guys, but I would give mine up,” according to the Indianapolis Star.
Trinidad and Tobago finished third and France fourth in the 4x100m relay in London and stand to possibly be upgraded to silver and bronze medals, respectively.
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