Antonio Pettigrew admitted he used performance enhancing drugs when he won the 4x400m gold in Sydney, causing Michael Johnson to return the medal he won as a member of the team. (Getty Images)(ATR) Olympic champion Michael Johnson will return the relay medal he won in Sydney when he ran with admitted drug users.
Johnson won a gold medal in the 4x400m relay with Antonio Pettigrew, who admitted to using performance enhancing drugs while testifying against his former coach in court.
The announcement came on Tuesday when Johnson penned an article for London’s Daily Telegraph explaining his decision.
"Because Antonio has admitted to taking banned substances from 1997 to 2001 there is a good chance that the United States' 4 x 400 relay records and medals won during that time period will come into question" Johnson said.
"Having received news over the past few years of many other athletes having cheated, I had reached a point of no longer being shocked. But this one was different, he was someone I considered a friend.
"The news that Antonio was scheduled to testify to having taken performance-enhancing drugs shocked me like no other drug-related story," Johnson wrote. "He was someone I considered a friend."
"I know that the medal was not fairly won and that it is dirty. I will be returning it because I don't want it. I feel cheated and betrayed.”
"As for that gold medal I won with Antonio, Alvin [Harrison] and Calvin [Harrison], who have all admitted to or have tested positive for drugs since 2000 when we won the medal, I'm sure The gold medal winning team from Sydney. (Getty Images)that there will be calls for us to give it back.
"I know that the medal was not fairly won and so I have moved it from the location where I have always kept my medals because it doesn't belong there, and it doesn't belong to me."
U.S. Olympic Committee CEO Jim Scherr says he welcomes the move by Johnson, as well as Pettigrew's confession.
"After years of failing to acknowledge his mistakes and accept responsibility for his actions, Mr. Pettigrew is now stepping forward and doing so by returning the medal that was unfairly won at the 2000 Olympic Games. We are pleased that he is now accepting responsibility and taking this step.
We are also pleased that Mr. Johnson has voluntarily chosen to return his medal from the 4x400 meter relay, which we believe is an example that others should follow. Mr. Johnson's action underscores his commitment to uphold the values of clean competition and further enhances his status as a great Olympic champion.
The admission by Mr. Pettigrew and other athletes who have admitted to doping during the 2000 Games has only strengthened our resolve to field a clean team in Beijing. The only medals we are interested in are those that are won by athletes who compete clean."
Written by Ed Hula III.
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