Jerome Young

Jerome Young was a long sprinter who ran the 4x400 metre relay for the United States at the 2000 Olympics. Initially the United States seemed to be the gold medalists in that race. Young also ran the 4x400 at the 1997 and 2001 World Championships and seemed to win gold medals at those meets, too.

However, in 2004 Young was found to have tested positive for nandrolone, an anabolic steroid, and all his results from 26 June 1999 to 25 June 2001 were rescinded. The loss of the 2000 Olympic gold medal was challenged by the US Olympic Committee as Young only ran in the heats and semi-finals, and initially the gold was restored to the USA, but it was again rescinded when Antonio Pettigrew was found to have used performance enhancing drugs (PEDs). The 1997 World Championship gold medal was also rescinded because Pettigrew had run on that team.

Although born in Jamaica, Young had been a high school star in Hartford, Connecticut, and in 1995 was named Track and Field News High School Athlete of the Year. Young attended St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh, North Carolina, leaving early to pursue professional track. He eventually obtained his degree and became a high school sprint coach in Raleigh and taught special education.