Multiple World Record (WR) holder Usain Bolt has been stripped of one of his nine Olympic GOLD
medals, following the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) disqualification of teammate Nesta Carter from the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Both Carter and Bolt competed in the 4x100m, running the first and third legs respectively in the final, with Asafa Powell anchoring the team to victory in a scorching time of 37.10s. Michael Frater is the fourth member of the GOLD-winning quartet.
In a release sent by the IOC on Wednesday, January 25, the re-analysis of Carter’s samples from Beijing 2008 resulted in a positive test for methylhexaneamine, which is a prohibited substance. The IOC has since requested that Carter’s medal, medallist pin and the diploma obtained in the men’s 4x100m relay event be withdrawn and returned. His teammates are also expected to do same.
The body also requested the IAAF to modify the results of the event, while the Jamaica Olympic Association is expected to ensure full implementation of this decision. This means that Trinidad and Tobago’s quartet of Keston Bledman, Marc Burns, Emmanuel Callender and Richard Thompson who initially won Silver in that race with a time of 38.06s, would most likely be upgraded to the GOLD medal position.
The Japanese team comprising of Naoki Tsukahara, Shingo Suetsugu, Shinji Takahira and Nobuharu Asahara claimed Bronze in 38.15s at the time.
Having become the first man in history to achieve the ‘Triple Triple’ – successive titles in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m at three consecutive Olympic Games, the loss of one of his GOLD medals will create a quite a dent in Bolt’s legacy.
During an interview with Jamaican radio station RJR Communications last year, the 11-time World Champion admitted that the thought of losing one of his medals was ‘heartbreaking’. He said: “I’m not too pleased about the situation.
“For years you’ve worked hard to accumulate GOLD medals and you work hard to be a champion, so it’s heartbreaking, but it’s one of those things. If I have to give back my GOLD medal, I’ll have to give it back.”
medal at the Beijing Olympics. Photo Credit: AP
