Usain Bolt stripped of 2008 gold medal due to relay teammate's positive doping test
Julian Finney/Getty
Make that eight gold medals for Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt.
On Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee announced that the Jamaican 4x100-meter relay team from the 2008 Beijing Olympics has been stripped of its gold medal due to sprinter Nesta Carter's positive doping test.
"The Jamaican team is disqualified from the men's 4x100m relay event," the IOC said. "The corresponding medals, medalist pins and diplomas are withdrawn and shall be returned."
From NBC Sports:
"Carter, part of winning 4x100m relay teams with Bolt in 2008 and 2012, failed retests of Beijing Olympic doping samples for a banned stimulant earlier this year. The IOC decided last year to retest 2008 Olympic samples, with better testing advancements, to possibly detect banned substances that weren't identified by 2008 testing methods."
Bolt, who famously completed the "treble treble" for three Olympics with three gold medals, expressed his disappointment over the news.
"It's heartbreaking because over the years you've worked hard to accumulate gold medals and work hard to be a champion," Bolt told the Jamiaca Gleaner in June. "When it's confirmed or whatever, if I need to give back my gold medal I'd have to give it back, it's not a problem for me."
Along with the gold medal from '08, the Jamaicans also lose their world record. Here's video from the race, with Carter running the first leg:
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