According to NBC Sports, the U.S. Olympic 4x100m relay team has been stripped of its silver medals by the International Olympic Committee. This is no surprise following Tyson Gay’s failed drug tests in the summer of 2013.
“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 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.”
After the failed drug test in summer 2013, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said Gay used a product that contained a prohibited substance on July 15, 2012. That came less than three weeks before his race at the London Olympics.
Gay ran that relay with teammates Trell Kimmons, Justin Gatlin and Ryan Bailey. Former NFL running back Jeff Demps earned a silver for taking part in a preliminary heat that summer.
Last May, Gay returned his silver medal to the U.S. Olympic Committee, but his teammates were left in the dark regarding the status of their medals. At least, they now have some closure.
All of Gay’s results during this span, including his performance at the Olympics, have been disqualified.
Photo: USA Today Sports