Antonio Pettigrew
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 3, 1967 Macon, Georgia |
| Died | August 10, 2010 (aged 42) Chatham County, North Carolina |
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Sport | |
| Country |  USA |
| Event | Athletics |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best | see Personal bests |
Antonio Pettigrew (November 3, 1967 – August 10, 2010) was an American sprinter who specialized in the 400 meters. He was born in Macon, Georgia.
While attending St. Augustine's College in Raleigh, North Carolina, he was a four-time NCAA Division II champion in the 400 meter race.[1] He came to prominence at the 1991 World Championships, where he won the 400 m gold medal and a silver medal in the 4 x 400 meters relay.
At the Summer Olympics in Sydney 2000, Pettigrew threw his gold medal-winning Adidas spikes into the crowd after winning the 4 x 400m final for the USA.[2]
In 2008, prosecution documents related to the trial of coach Trevor Graham listed Pettigrew as one of Graham's athletes to have used performance-enhancing drugs.[3] Pettigrew then admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs and testified against Graham at his trial in May 2008.[4] Although IAAF rules currently do not retroactively alter results more than eight years after the event, Pettigrew returned the medals he won in that period.[5][6] The 2000 Sydney Olympics 4 × 400 m relay US team was stripped of their medals after Pettigrew admitted that he had used performance-enhancing drugs.[7] He received a two-year athletics ban in 2008, although he had already retired from the track.[5]
Pettigrew was found dead in the back seat of his locked car in Chatham County, North Carolina, on August 10, 2010, and evidence of sleeping pills was found by police. On October 13, an autopsy report stated that he had committed suicide by overdosing on a medication containing diphenhydramine.[8][9] Pettigrew was an assistant coach at the University of North Carolina at the time of his death.[10]
Personal bests
| Event | Time (seconds) | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 meters | 10.42 | Unknown | 1994 |
| 200 meters | 20.38 | Durham, North Carolina, United States | April 9, 1994 |
| 300 meters | 32.33 | Jerez de la Frontera, Spain | September 13, 1989 |
| 400 meters | 44.27 | Houston, Texas, United States | June 17, 1989 |
- All information from IAAF Profile.[11]
See also
References
- ^ "For The Record". Sports Illustrated. 113 (6). 2010-08-23. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
- ^ Melbourne Herald, Sun 10 Oct 2000, p. 71.
- ^ "Olympic relay champion Pettigrew was doping: report". AFP. May 3, 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
- ^ Doped-up Pettigrew denied GB gold. BBC Sport May 23, 2008. Retrieved on 2009-03-10.
- ^ a b Pettigrew given two-year dope ban. BBC Sport June 3, 2008. Retrieved on 2009-03-10.
- ^ Sprinter Pettigrew to return gold, accepts ban. AFP June 3, 2008. Retrieved on 2009-03-10.
- ^ "Pollution, Internet, doping dominate Olympics lead-up". CNN. August 2, 2008. Retrieved 2009-03-10.
- ^ Autopsy Files
- ^ Fanhouse
- ^ "BALCO grand jury is likely targeting Trevor Graham". ESPN. October 25, 2006. Retrieved 2008-01-11.
- ^ "Pettigrew, Antonio biography". IAAF. Retrieved 2009-03-10.
External links
|
- 1967 births
- 2010 deaths
- African American track and field athletes
- American sportspeople in doping cases
- American sprinters
- Athletes (track and field) at the 2000 Summer Olympics
- Athletes who committed suicide
- Olympic track and field athletes of the United States
- People from the Research Triangle, North Carolina
- Suicides in North Carolina