Will the USA lose the 2000 Sydney Olympics Gold post Pettigrew admission?

See the US 4x400 Gold medal relay team from the 2000 Olympics?  See the gold vanish now that Antonio Pettigrew admitted to Olympic doping -- with HGH and EPO.  (to AFP)

Antonio Pettigrew's doping admission in the perjury trial of athletics coach Trevor Graham could lead to the United States forfeiting a 4x400-meter relay gold medal from the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

The trial, in recess until Tuesday after the prosecution finished making its case Thursday, comes after Graham pleaded not guilty to three charges of lying to federal agents looking into performance-enhancing drug distribution in 2004.

Graham is the former coach of Pettigrew as well as disgraced sprint stars Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery and Pettigrew's revelation in US District Court could mean the US men's 4x400 relay will have to surrender a Sydney gold medal.

Jones, serving a six-month prison sentenced for perjury and a role in a check fraud scheme, returned five medals she won at Sydney and her teammates on two relays also lost their medals, although they are appealing that punishment.

Pettigrew, 40, backed the government's contention that Angel Heredia, an admitted steroids dealer, provided Pettigrew and others performance-enhancing banned drugs through Graham.

US Olympic Committee chief executive Jim Scherr said that such an admission of a violation could result in medals being returned but such a decision would be in the hands of the International Olympic Committee.

The Graham trial could foreshadow the upcoming trial of US baseball home run king Barry Bonds on perjury charges stemming from his denials of taking performance-enhancing drugs to a grand jury looking into the BALCO steroid scandal.

Bonds has a court hearing next month after the government refiled charges in the case, splitting several accusations after having lumped them together.

An analysis of Pettigrew's times over the years correlated with his PED use would be invaluable.  If I were Czar of the USADA I would make this deal: help us understand how the PEDs (HGH and EPO) enhanced 400M performance?  Track performance v. drugs used over time.

Sure, the tainted medal won't shine as brightly, however the knowledge would be very valuable if a fellow like Pettigrew fessed up to what drugs he used, and the dosages he took.

Comments

[alexx]

While it is good that Pettigrew is co-operating, no one should get to keep their medals after cheating. That would be like allowing bank robbers to keep the money they have stolen. In the case of bank robbers, we would not accept the excuse that it was another member of the gang that did the actual crime - nor should it be acceptable for other team members to keep their medals.

Perhaps the real question we should ask, is... should the US be permitted to compete in the relay events at the next Olympic games and World Championships?

If we consider both the men's and women's relay events, there seems to have been a clear pattern of cheating here.