Justice at Last: Britain's Relay Team Receives Gold, Years After Race
Britain's men’s 4x400m relay team were elevated to gold medalists from the 1997 World Championships after the U.S. team's disqualification over doping. The medals were awarded at London's Diamond League meeting, accompanied by government support for future UK-hosted world athletic events.
In a twist of fate that rewards patience and integrity, Britain's men's 4x400m relay team received gold medals for their performance at the 1997 World Championships at London's Diamond League meeting. The British athletes were originally silver medalists but were elevated to gold after the U.S. team suffered disqualification due to doping violations.
The disqualification followed Antonio Pettigrew's confession of doping stretching from 1997 until 2003, impacting the U.S. team's standings in multiple events, including the 2000 Olympics. The reallocation concluded with World Athletics President Seb Coe presenting the medals to the former athletes, who were cheered on by a crowd of 60,000 as the national anthem played belated recognition.
Amid the celebrations, the UK government expressed strong backing for hosting future World Athletics Championships, reinforcing the nation's commitment to cultivating its reputation for memorable sporting events. Prime Minister Keir Starmer affirmed support for both the 2029 World Athletics and World Para Athletics Championships bids, highlighting the potential inspiration for future athletes.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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