Usain Bolt, the six-time Olympic gold medallist, is in danger of losing one of his gold medals after his Jamaican teammate in the 4x100m at the Beijing Olympics 2008, Nesta Carter’s 'A' sample was found to contain a banned substance, Reuters reports. The relay team, consisting of Carter, Bolt, Michael Frater and Asafa Powell broke the Olympic and World record to win the gold of the 4x100m relay race.
According to Reuters’ sources, traces of Methylhexanamine were found in Carter’s ‘A’ blood samples, and if his ‘B’ samples are also found to contain the banned substance, he will face sanctions from the International Olympic Committee(IOC). Reportedly, Carter and his agent were not available for comments on the matter.
Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) president Michael Fennell has also refrained from making any comments on the matter whereas Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association president Warren Blake declined that any such notification has been sent to them from IOC.
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Carter, who also won the Gold medal at 2012 London Games in the 4x100m relay race, ran the first leg of the relay in Beijing as the Jamaican team completed the race in 37.10 seconds ahead of Trinidad and Tobago, who won the silver medal, and Japan (bronze). In addition to the two Olympic golds, the 30-year-old has won gold medals in the 4x100m relay at the 2011, 2013 and 2015 World Championships.
World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code prohibited list saw Methylhexanamine added to it in 2004, however, in 2011, it was reclassified as a ‘specified substance’ on the list. The drug has been recently used as an ingredient in dietary supplements after being initially sold as a nasal decongestant in the United States until 1983.
Recently, IOC has decided to test blood samples from the 2008 and 2012 Olympics after a development in the testing technology. Traces of drugs which were untraceable with the older technology can be traced now after the improvement.
IOC has also decided to handle all the doping cases arising after a re-test by themselves, contrary to the usual norm where the doping cases are handled by the concerned athletic federations and anti-doping agencies.
"We want to keep dopers away from the Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro. This is why we are acting swiftly now. I have already appointed a disciplinary commission, which has the full power to take all decisions on behalf of the IOC", IOC president Thomas Bach said last week.
