Nigeria Awarded Year 2000 Olympic 4 x 400m Relay Gold Medal

After 12 years, the Sydney 2000 International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board has finally awarded Nigeria the men’s 4x400m relay gold medal. The United States, who were the original winners of the gold, were disqualified because a member of their team – Antonio Pettigrew, confessed to taking performance enhancing drugs during the Games. However, Pettigrew was found dead in his car in 2010. Though there were no confirmations for cause of death then, an autopsy report later ruled it as suicide by overdosing on a drug used in sleeping pills. The Executive Board disqualified Pettigrew since August 2008 but delayed making a final decision on reallocating medals till all investigations on an American doping scandal were complete. The Nigerian team, who originally finished second, was now awarded gold while the Jamaican and Bahamas team who came third and fourth, were given the silver and bronze medals respectively. Congratulations to the Nigerian team made up of Clement Chukwu, Enefiok Udo-Ubong, Jude Monye, and the late Sunday Bada, who died eight months ago.

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This article was first published on 23rd July 2012 and updated on July 25th, 2012 at 8:32 pm

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