Team USA’s appeal of 4×100-meter results rejected, leaving team without bronze medal

Justin Gatlin
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Roger Kuznia
Roger Kuznia

The U.S. men’s 4×100 relay team’s appeal of Friday’s men’s 4×100-meter results was rejected Saturday, leaving the team without the bronze medal because of a bad baton pass.

The relay team, which included former Tennessee Volunteers star Justin Gatlin and former Arkansas Razorbacks standout Tyson Gay, finished third behind Jamaica and Japan on Friday.

However, the Americans lost the medal after it was ruled that they failed to make their first baton pass within the exchange zone.

Mike Rodgers, the Americans’ first runner, handed the baton cleanly to Gatlin for the second leg of the relay. However, he didn’t make the handoff within 20-meter exchange zone.

The U.S. had to forfeit the medal, which was given to Canada instead.

It’s not the first time the U.S. has struggled in this area. The relay team was disqualified in 2008 because of a baton infraction as well.

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