Usain Bolt says he is resigned to the fact that he’s lost one of his nine Olympic gold medals, but isn’t holding any grudges against relay teammate Nesta Carter.
Carter has said he will appeal after re-analysis of his sample from the 2008 Beijing Games using more advanced scientific methods returned a positive test to the prohibited stimulant methylhexaneamine.
The result announced by the International Olympic Committee last week meant Jamaica was stripped of the 4×100-meter relay gold, one of Bolt’s unprecedented three gold medals at three consecutive Olympics at Beijing, London in 2012 and Rio de Janeiro last year.
Bolt and fellow Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell arrived in Melbourne Australia today for a Nitro Athletics meet which begins Saturday.
“Initially (I was) disappointed, of course,” Bolt said at Melbourne airport, according to the Associated Press.
“But in life, things happen … I’m not sad, I’m waiting to see if Nesta is going to appeal or whatever,” Bolt added. “So right now I’m just waiting to see what’s going to happen. But I gave up my medal.”
Carter teamed with Bolt on three straight world championship relay-winning teams, from 2011 through 2015. He also took an individual bronze in the 100 in 2013 in Moscow, behind Bolt and Justin Gatlin of the United States.
Carter, who did not compete at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics last year, faces a ban from the IAAF.
