The 2012 U.S. Olympic 4x100m relay team that finished behind Jamaica in London has been stripped of its silver medals by the International Olympic Committee due to Tyson Gay‘s doping.
“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 4x100-meter race that was part of the athletics competition at the London 2012 Olympic Games,” USOC chief communications officer Patrick Sandusky said in a statement. “We will begin efforts to have the medals returned, and support all measures to protect clean athletes.”
Gay failed drug tests in summer 2013 and first used a product that contained a prohibited substance on July 15, 2012, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said, less than three weeks before his first race at the London Olympics. All of his results during that span were disqualified, including the Olympics.
In London, Gay was part of the U.S. 4x100m relay team that won silver on Aug. 11, 2012 (race video here). He ran the third leg after Trell Kimmons and Justin Gatlin and before Ryan Bailey. Former NFL running back Jeff Demps and Doc Patton also earned medals running in a preliminary heat.
Last May, it was first reported that Gay returned his silver medal to the U.S. Olympic Committee, but his teammates spent one year not knowing if they would keep their medals.
“If it comes to that point to give that medal up, I can’t speak for the rest of the guys, but I would give mine up,” Kimmons said last May, according to the Indianapolis Star.
Trinidad and Tobago finished third and France fourth in the 4x100m relay in London and stand to possibly be upgraded to silver and bronze medals, respectively.
