IOC hand Nigeria relay gold medal

Nigeria were officially awarded the men’s 4x400m relay gold medal from the 2000 Olympics yesterday following a meeting of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The Nigerians took the gold originally won by the US, who have since been disqualified because of the late Antonio Pettigrew admitted to having been doped at the time of the Games.

Nigeria are elevated to title winners with Jamaica taking silver and the Bahamas the bronze.

“Pettigrew was disqualified in August 2008 but the EXCO delayed a decision on reallocation until it had received information stemming from investigations into the BALCO sports-doping scandal,” the IOC said.

However, the IOC were not able to perform such an exercise regarding the US women’s 4x400m relay gold medallists from the 2004 Games despite Crystal Cox admitting she took steroids from 2001-2004.

Whilst the athlete herself had her medal taken back the IOC are awaiting clarification from the IAAF as to whether the whole team should be disqualified.