Johnson returns relay gold

2008-08-05 14:08

Beijing - Athletics legend Michael Johnson has handed back the 4x400m relay gold medal he won at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, International Olympic Committee (IOC) vice-president Thomas Bach confirmed on Tuesday.

The 200m and 400m world record holder had already said he would hand it back after team member Antonio Pettigrew admitted earlier this year to being doped at the time.

Johnson's action came just three days after the team were officially stripped of the title by the IOC.

"Johnson wrote to us to say he considered the medal was not won honestly and he was returning it," said Bach, himself an Olympic gold medallist, in fencing, back in 1976.

As in the case of disgraced former US track queen Marion Jones, who was stripped of her five Sydney medals last December, the relay medal has not been redistributed.

Of the four members of the relay team that evening only Johnson has never tested positive - as well as Pettigrew, the Harrison twins Alvin and Calvin, were suspended for doping but after 2000.

The two other members of the squad, Angelo Taylor - the Sydney 400m hurdles champion who is competing in that event in Beijing - and Jerome Young, subsequently banned for drugs offences, will also forfeit their relay medals.

Nigeria filled second place in the final while Jamaica were third and The Bahamas fourth.

- AFP