Brazil may inherit 4x100m Olympic gold from 2000, lament loss
26/11/2008 16:04
Brazil may take the men's 4x100m relay gold in the Sydney Olympics after
jailed US sprinter Tim Montgomery admitted that he used drugs before winning a
gold medal with the 4x100 meters relay team in 2000.
Montgomery, 33, who has
been sentenced to almost nine years in jail on heroin and cheque fraud charges,
made the confession in an interview for the HBO television "Real Sports with
Bryant Gumbel" scheduled to be broadcast yesterday.
The International Olympic
Committee said yesterday the IOC would look into the matter as part of its open
file on the BALCO case.
Brazil were second and Cuba third in the Sydney
relay.
The gold medal from the Sydney Olympics may end up being draped around
the necks of Claudinei Quirino, Edson Luciano, Andre Domingos and Vicente
Lenilson.
The members, however, all expressed their disappointment that they
could not enjoy thrill and glory of being crowned Olympic champion in front of
the entire world.
"I will be happy to have the gold medal, I can't lie. But,
all the emotion and pride of hearing your national anthem, even the financial
benefits, won't be recuperated. I saw how Maurren wept with happiness on the
podium. My 4x100 team will never have that experience. This gold will come at
the wrong time," said Edson Luciano.
"Its frustrating to know this now. We
didn't get to hear our national hymn and we didn't get to make all 180 million
Brazilians that we represented happy. The athlete in question didn't necessarily
participate in the final race, but he helped his team get there. The team has to
be punished," added Andre Domingos.
Claudinei Quirno said, "All of our work
for the Games where thrown into the trash. I was mad at the whole world because
we lost a lot by placing second. Nowadays, I work with young kids. This is going
to be a good example for them all wrongs can always be made right. If I am
awarded the gold, I will wear it with pride. But, if we really do receive the
gold medal, I want to have a huge public ceremony and hear my national anthem
played."
Xinhua
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