US 1,600-meter relay world record scrapped

[August 12, 2008]  BEIJING (AP) -- Track and field's ruling body has scrapped the 1,600-meter relay world record set by the United States in 1998 because of Antonio Pettigrew's admission of doping.

Pettigrew, Michael Johnson, Tyree Washington and Jerome Young set the record of 2 minutes, 54.20 seconds.

IAAF president Lamine Diack said Tuesday his group wants to send a message that it will not tolerate doping.

The previous world record of 2:54.29 was set by the United States in 1993.

Pettigrew said in court in May that he had used performance-enhancing drugs.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.