Life moves on for the Jamaican Sprint King, Usain Bolt who has had to give up his gold medal in the 4X100 metres earned in the Beijing Olympics after one of his countrymen and teammate, Nesta Carter was caught taking a banned stimulant called methylhexaneamine.
“Initially (I was) disappointed, of course,” Bolt was quoted by Reuters telling media persons at the Melbourne Airport. “But in life, things happen. I’m not sad… I’m just waiting to see what’s going to happen. But I gave up my medal,” said Bolt who is in the Australian city to participate in the Nitro Athletics series to be held on February 4, 9 and 11. Bolt leads the All Stars team against sides from England, China, New Zealand and Japan.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) instructed Carter, Bolt, Asfa Powell and Michael Frater to return their medals. Carter however would contest the verdict at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Bolt had earlier said that he would be keen on funding Carter’s appeal if the need arose. “It’s rough that I have to give back one of my medals and I already gave it back because it was of course required by the IOC,” Bolt told The Gleaner adding, “I’m not happy about it but it’s just one of those things that happen in life.”
Commenting on the matter, Powell, who also served a ban for six months for testing positive in 2013, said, “It’s very unfortunate and we have to look to the future. We’ve accomplished a lot and we just need to be positive about everything right now.” And he added, “I’m in no position to say what should and should not be (banned). It is what it is. Some things aren’t fair.”
Of course life moves on, but when you have to pay a heavy price for someone else’s fault, you feel disheartened. Yes, it’s sad!
(With inputs from Reuters)