US Cyclist Stripped of Gold
IOC Reportedly Will Strip USA Cyclist Tyler Hamilton of 2004 Olympic Gold Medal
By Bleachersreport
August 9, 2012
Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
Nearly eight years after the fact, the International Olympic Committee is going to strip American cyclist Tyler Hamilton of his 2004 gold medal from the Athens Olympics after he admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs, according to a report from the Associated Press (h/t NBC Sports).
With the eight-year deadline approaching, the official told The Associated Press the IOC executive board will meet Friday to readjust the standings from the road race time trial and award the gold to retired Russian rider Viatcheslav Ekimov.
American Bobby Julich will be moved up from bronze to silver, and Michael Rogers of Australia from fourth to bronze.
This is just the latest black eye for American cycling. Back in June, the United States Anti-Doping Agency filed doping charges against Lance Armstrong that could result in him losing all seven of his Tour de France titles.
Unlike Hamilton, who was open about his use of performance-enhancing drugs, Armstrong still maintains that he is innocent and has never used any kind of illegal substance to gain an advantage.
This is an interesting decision for the IOC, as the AP report says it "could have decided to disqualify Hamilton but not readjust the medals."
I wonder how the athletes feel about being handed medals so far after the fact, but the IOC has apparently made its decision, and the new medalists will likely not lose any sleep over it.