Teammates of Pettigrew stripped of gold medals

Aug 2, 2008 - 10:46 AM BEIJING (Ticker) -- The International Olympic Committee on Saturday formally stripped the gold medals from the United States men's 4x400-meter relay team from the 2000 Sydney Games.

The IOC executive board have disqualified the whole team following Antonio Pettigrew's admission of doping in May.

Michael Johnson had already handed back his medal, calling it "tainted," with Pettigrew also relinquishing his medal less than two weeks after admitting he used performance-enhancing drugs while testifying in the trial of coach Trevor Graham.

Twins Alvin and Calvin Harrison, Jerome Young and Angelo Taylor have now also been told by the IOC to return their medals, although no decision has yet been taken on the redistribution of the medals.

"Mr. Pettigrew's teammates in the U.S. men's 4x400m relay team suffered as a result of his doping offense, as the team were formally disqualified from the 4x400 meters relay event at the 2000 Olympic Games," the IOC said in a statement released Saturday.

"All medals and diplomas awarded to the team must now be returned to the IOC, via the U.S. Olympic Committee. A decision on reallocating the medals and diplomas of those affected by these decisions will be made at a future meeting of the IOC Executive Board."