No word of upgrade, says Olympics chief
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago (CMC) — National Olympic authorities here say they have received no word from the International Olympic Committee on any upgrade in medal as a result of the Jamaica’s disqualification as men’s sprint relay champions at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Brian Lewis, head of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee, said they will not be rushing to any conclusions and, this moment, were showing their solidarity with Jamaica.
“The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) has not at this time received any official communication from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in respect of the Trinidad and Tobago men’s relay team,” Lewis said here yesterday.
“As such, we have taken note of the IOC Disciplinary Commission Decision and official statement as it relates to Jamaica and Nesta Carter.
“It is always a disappointing and an unfortunate situation when an athlete from any country is embroiled in such a situation and certainly we empathise with our Caribbean athletes.”
The IOC announced Wednesday that the Jamaica men’s sprint relay team from the 2008 Games would be disqualified after it was confirmed that Nesta Carter, a member of that team, had tested positive for the banned substance methylhexaneamine.
Carter, along with sprint superstar Usain Bolt, Michael Frater and Asafa Powell, had won gold in a world record time of 37.10 seconds.
However, Carter was among several hundred athletes who has their samples from those games retested ahead of last year’s Rio Olympics, and the IOC said the 31-year-old has returned a positive sample.
T&T, whose team of Keston Bledman, Marc Burns, Emmanuel Callender and Richard Thompson finished second, are expected to be upgraded, but Lewis said the TTOC would allow the IOC process to run its course.
“The TTOC, like all in the Olympic movement, must adhere to the principles and standards pursuant to the Olympic Charter and the IOC anti-doping rules,” he stressed.
“So we await the completion of the IOC’s process and procedures as it relates to the upgrading of the medals. So at this point in time it is extremely premature and speculative for the TTOC to comment in any way as it relates to Trinidad and Tobago being awarded the gold medal.”
T&T won two medals in Beijing, with Richard Thompson taking silver in the men’s 100 metres.
