The Jamaican 4X100 relay team is striped of its Beijing 2008 title as the International Olympic Committee sanctions Nesta Carter for doping.
Usain Bolt can no longer claim to be a nine-time Olympic Gold medallist after the IOC confirmed that Jamaica’s 2008 Olympic winning relay team would be stripped of their title as a result of Nesta Carter testing positive for a banned substance.
His was one of 454 selected samples retested by the IOC last year. It was confirmed to contain the banned stimulant methylhexaneamine.
Carter ran the first leg for a team that included Michael Frater, Bolt and Asafa Powell.
The IOC statement read: “Nesta Carter, 31, of Jamaica, competing in the men’s 4x100m relay event (round 1 and final) in which he and his team-mates ranked 1st and for which they were awarded the gold medal, has been disqualified from the Olympic Games Beijing 2008…Re-analysis of Carter’s samples from Beijing 2008 resulted in a positive test for the prohibited substance methylhexaneamine.”
The statement continued: “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 The corresponding medals, medallist pins and diplomas are withdrawn and shall be returned.”
While there is no suggestion that Bolt knew anything about Carter’s doping or was involved in any way, the revelation will be frustrating and disappointing for him.
Bolt, who is a triple olympic champion in the 100m and 200m can no longer boast the ‘triple triple’.
His reputation wont have been damaged, but his legacy has had some of the shine taken off it by his own teammate.
