The International Olympic Committee (IOC) informed the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) yesterday that it had officially begun the process that could lead to reallocation of medals from the London 2012 Games.
TTOC president Brian Lewis said that the IOC had confirmed to the TTOC yesterday that the IOC had officially written the United States Olympic athletes stripping United States of their London 2012 silver medal.
"They now have 21 days to respond. If there is no objection within the 21 days, then the IOC will consider re-allocation," TTOC president Brian Lewis said.
Lewis said the IOC had advised there were a number of factors to consider, including the re-classification under the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF).
"Once these (factors) have been considered, a recommendation for re-allocation will be made. And it is at that point only that the national Olympic committee involved, in this case us (TTOC) will be officially notified," Lewis said.
Lewis added that the IOC had indicated that the process is "a bit drawn out" but that the process had to be followed.
"(For me) to say anything outside of that, it would be inappropriate and premature to speculate on the re-classification or if there is to be a reallocation" Lewis said.
"So no decision has been made as yet about reclassifying T&T pending the response of the US Olympic athletes," Lewis concluded.
If Keston Bledman, Marc Burns, Emmanuel Callender and Richard "Torpedo" Thompson are upgraded to Olympic Games men's 4x100 metres silver, it would be the quartet's second promotion. Thompson was actually the fourth man to cross the finish line in the London sprint relay final, anchoring T&T to a 38.12 seconds clocking. A lane violation, however, led to the disqualification of third-placed Canada, and T&T moved into the bronze position.
American track star Tyson Gay received a one-year doping ban after testing positive for an anabolic steroid in 2013, and his results, starting from July 15, 2012, were annulled. Included on that list of disqualified results was the August 11 Olympic 4x100m final, United States having finished second to Jamaica.
Gay returned his silver medal, last year. And now, his teammates in the championship race-Trell Kimmons, Justin Gatlin and Ryan Bailey-have been asked to do the same. Jeffery Demps and Darvis Patton, who ran in the qualifying round, will also have to hand in their medals.
If the medals are reallocated, T&T will be promoted from bronze to silver, and France, from fourth to bronze.
If London 2012 men's 4x100m silver is awarded to T&T, the country's best ever Olympic performance would get even better-one gold, one silver and two bronze medals.