Richards ‘heartbroken’ to lose Olympic relay medal

ZURICH (AP) — Two-time Olympic 1,600 relay champion Sanya Richards says the prospect of losing her first gold medal because of a teammate’s doping is heartbreaking.

Richards tells the Associated Press that the U.S. team’s victory at the 2004 Athens Games was a career highlight because it was her first Olympics.

She said on Tuesday she’s praying that the five teammates of Crystal Cox can keep their title and medals.

But Richards, the individual 400 world champion, said: “I know that’s probably not going to happen.”

Cox admitted in January to using anabolic steroids, and accepted a four-year suspension and disqualification of her results from 2001-04.

The IAAF governing body wants the U.S. team stripped of its Athens victory.

An IOC panel is examining the case.