Bolt
returns gold medal from 2008 4x100 relay
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[January 28, 2017]
By Kayon Raynor
KINGSTON (Reuters) - Jamaican Usain
Bolt says it is rough losing one of his nine Olympic gold medals
after relay team mate Nesta Carter was found guilty of doping at the
2008 Beijing Olympics. "It's rough that I have to give back one of
my medals and I already gave it back because it was of course
required by the IOC", Bolt told Reuters on Friday in his first
comments since the International Olympic Committee ruling.
"I'm not happy about it but it's just one of those things that
happen in life.
"I can't allow that to deter me from my focus this season, so I am
focused but I am not pleased."
Carter was found in re-tests of his sample to have taken the banned
stimulant methylhexaneamine, the IOC said on Wednesday, meaning the
entire Jamaican relay team had to return their gold medals.
The loss of the 4x100 meters medal leaves Bolt with eight Olympic
golds, and he does not think the ruling tarnishes his glittering
career record.
And he still might have one last chance to reclaim his medal, with
an appeal by Carter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in
the works, according to Jamaica Olympic Association president Mike
Fennell.
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Bolt was non-committal about whether he would financially contribute
to Carter's appeal.
"That's up to my management, there are a lot of variables so we will
discuss that and see where we go from there," he said.
Bolt is considered the greatest sprinter of all time, having won an
unprecedented treble of consecutive Olympic golds in the 100m and
200m in 2008, 2012 and 2016.
He also was part of the winning Jamaican 4x100 relay team in 2012
and 2016.
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Men's 4x100m relay Asafa Powell, Usain Bolt, Michael Frater, Nesta
Carter of Jamaica celebrate after winning the final of the athletics
competition in the National Stadium during the Beijing 2008 Olympic
Games August 22, 2008. Usain Bolt has lost one of his nine Olympic
gold medals after Jamaica team mate Nesta Carter was found guilty of
doping at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File
Photo
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Bolt is credited with being a key factor in maintaining a global
interest in athletics at a time when the sport has been ravaged by
doping violations.
"I think I've still accomplished a lot, it hasn't changed what I
have done throughout my career," said the 100m and 200m world
record-holder.
"I have worked hard and pushed and done things that no one has done
before. I have won three gold medals over the 100m and 200m."
Bolt, 30, says he will retire after the 2017 world championships in
London.
(Editing by Andrew Both)
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