Usain Bolt loses super hattrick record because teammate caught doping

The "Jamaican Lightning" lost the 4x100m relay gold medal at the 2008 Olympics after teammate Nesta Carter tested positive for a banned substance.

Carter was the first runner in the Jamaican men's 4x100m relay final in Beijing nine years ago. With Michael Frater, Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell following behind, Jamaica ran a time of 37.10 seconds, winning gold and breaking the world record.

But Carter was one of 454 athletes whose doping samples were retested by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). And the retest results showed that the Jamaican athlete tested positive formethylhexaneamine - a stimulant on the list of banned substances used in sports competitions.

After Carter's doping test results, the IOC revoked the performance of the entire Jamaican relay team that won the 2008 Olympic gold medal.

Bolt just completed a super hattrick of Olympic gold medals in Rio de Janeiro this past summer, when he won all three short-distance gold medals (100m, 200m and 4x100m) at the last three Olympics (2016, 2012 and 2008). He is the first athlete in history to achieve this feat.

However, with the IOC canceling his results and revoking his 2008 Olympic 4x100m gold medal due to the Carter scandal, Bolt's medal was no longer counted in his personal record. He therefore only has eight Olympic gold medals.

Nesta Carter (second from left) of the Jamaican 4x100m relay team celebrates after winning a world record gold medal in 2008. Photo: AFP.

Carter, 31, is a familiar face on the Jamaican relay team that has dominated the track and field scene for nearly 10 years. He and his teammates won the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics and were world champions in the 4x100m in 2011, 2013 and 2015.

Following the decision to strip the 2008 gold medals from the relay teams of Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and Japan, the teams that finished second and third in Beijing nine years ago will likely be promoted to receive gold and silver medals. Brazil will be promoted to receive bronze.

Jamaica expressed disappointment with the IOC's decision. Jamaica Athletics Federation President Warren Blake said he did not expect the entire Jamaican relay team to be stripped of their individual results because one member was found guilty of doping. "I'm not ruling out Nesta Carter being guilty, but I'm personally surprised that they've taken this course," Blake added.

Usain Bolt has yet to react to the IOC's decision.

According to VNE