The whole of the US men’s 4x100m squad have been stripped of their London 2012 Olympic silver medals, as a result of Tyson Gay’s recent doping charge.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has written to the US Olympic Committe (USOC) requesting that they collect the medals return them to the IOC.
“As expected, following USADA’s decision in the Tyson Gay case, the IOC today confirmed that the U.S. team has been disqualified from the 4×100-meter race that was part of the athletics competition at the London 2012 Olympic Games,” USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky said in a statement.
“We will begin efforts to have the medals returned, and support all measures to protect clean athletes.”
Gay returned from a one year drugs ban in 2014. Upon receiving his ban, Gay voluntarily returned his medal but now his teammates Justin Gatlin, Ryan Bailey and Trell Kimmons will also be forced to hand over their medals.
The former 100m and 200m world champion, who finished second to Bolt in the 100m at the 2009 IAAF World Championships, was suspended for a year after testing positive for an anabolic steroid.
The official ban for the offence is two years, however the American 100m record holder’s suspension was reduced to a single year after he collaborated with the US Anti-Doping Agency.
Gay’s co-operation saw his former coach Jon Drummond banned from participating in any aspect of track and field, which includes training and advising athletes, for eight years.
