'Saddened' Johnson gives back his 'drug-tainted' Olympic gold relay medal

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The double world-record holder, who retired in 2001, said he was "deeply disappointed and saddened" to be voluntarily sending back his 4 x 400m gold from the Sydney Games to the International Olympic Committee. Medals returned to the IOC are more usually stripped from athletes subsequently found to have violated anti-doping regulations.

Tainted victory: Antonio Pettigrew, Calvin Harrison, Michael Johnson and Alvin Harrison celebrate their 4x400m gold at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 - Pettigrew later admitted to taking drugs

Johnson reached the decision after his former team-mate and friend, Antonio Pettigrew, admitted during the recent trial of the coach, Trevor Graham, that he had used drugs during those Olympics.

Pettigrew's confession followed the drug bans already imposed on Alvin and Calvin Harrison and Jerome Young, also members of the victorious United States relay squad in Sydney.

VIDEO: Johnson at his best at the 1996 Olympics

Johnson describes the medal as "tainted" and adds: "I know that the medal was not fairly won and that it is dirty and so I have moved it from the location where I have always kept my medals because it doesn't belong there.

"And it doesn't belong to me, so I will be returning it to the IOC because I don't want it. It was not won fairly. I am deeply disappointed and saddened."

Johnson, 40, admitted that in defending the sport in recent years, he had been "naive". His stance was applauded by the International Association of Athletics Federations.

Spokesman Nick Davies said: "By taking this courageous step, Michael has sent an important message about the place of doping in sport. Michael has done the right thing."