By Ben Efe
Nigeria’s 4x400m men relay quartet are yet to get the Sydney 2000 Olympics gold, three years after it was stripped from the USA and awarded to Nigeria.

The IOC had taken the medal from the USA, after a team member Antonio Pettigrew confessed to steroids use.

The IOC it was gathered, refused to hand the medal to members of the Nigerian quartet, because the Nigeria Olympic Committee failed to follow up the matter.

Nigeria was upgraded to the gold on August 2, 2008, after the USA was disqualified and stripped of the medal. Jude Monye, Clement Chukwu, Sunday Bada and Enefiok Udo-Obong, represented Nigeria in that memorable race.

“Its been three years after the decision was made to strip the USA but we have gotten the gold medal. “Monye on behalf of the team made representation to the IOC, but IOC told us that they haven’t heard from the NOC and until they do so, they will not give us the medal,”said Chukwu.

However, spokesman of the NOC, Mr. Tony Ubani said in Lagos that the Sanni Ndanusa led board of the NOC was unaware of the situation.

“May be the past dispensation at the NOC can tell why there was no follow up. However, we are a proactive board and ready to take up the matter if indeed it was not followed up,” said Ubani.

It was gather that Jamaica and Bahamas have received their medals and diplomas. It was only Nigeria that was yet to get theirs.