US Olympic officials confirmed for the first time that sprinter Jerome Young tested positive for steroids a year before winning a gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Games.

The confirmation of Young's name opened the way for international officials to reopen the case and possibly strip the US 400-metre relay team of the gold.

The Young case was examined by the IOC executive board during a review by the US Olympic Committee of its drug-testing program from 1985-00.

USOC acting president Bill Martin said Young was identified as one of 24 American athletes who won Olympic medals after positive drug tests.

IOC president Jacques Rogge said the confirmation represented a "crucial" development. He said the IOC was asking track and field's world governing body to investigate.

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