media_artricles :: 2015

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TRINIDAD AND Tobago are yet to receive official confirmation of an Olympic medal upgrade from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) following reports of the United States’ recent men’s 4x100-metre relay silver- medal stripping on Wednesday.

Local TTOC president, Brian Lewis said yesterday that a response is still pending from the IOC, having sent an e-mail of enquiry prior to the media frenzy two days ago.

However, Lewis said he is yet to receive correspondence from the IOC since the committee’s headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, is currently closed due to a hectic Ascension Day holiday weekend.

“We have not had any official feedback from the IOC concerning this matter since my e-mail to them on Wednesday,” said Lewis yesterday.

“But we are aware that this is a big holiday weekend in Switzerland and expect to be informed by Monday.”

The TTOC boss reiterated the importance of following Olympic protocol by the TTOC, consulting the IOC prior to making open and public assumptions on the matter.

“We, the TTOC, can only go with what the IOC says. It is all over the media, yes, but these findings have not yet been confirmed by the world governing body. Until then, we wait on their correspondence,” added Lewis.

On Wednesday, multiple stories were published stating that the USA men’s 4x100m relay team was stripped of their London 2012 Olympic silver medals as a consequence of Tysoin Gay’s drug ban in May 2014.

The former 100m and 200m world champion was then suspended for a year after testing positive for a banned anabolic substance.

According to reports, the IOC wrote officials of the US Olympic Committee and revealed that the entire team must return their medals.

The other athletes on the US team were Justin Gatlin, Ryan Bailey, Darvis Patton, Jeffery Demps and Trell Kimmons.

If reports are confirmed, by the IOC, Trinidad and Tobago’s Keston Bledman, Richard Thompson, Emmanuel Callender and Marc Burns who placed third in the event will be bumped up into silver medal position, while fourth placed France will be elevated to third.

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