Former Olympic champion Antonio Pettigrew found dead in car

August 11th, 2010 - 1:48 am ICT by BNO News  

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA (BNO NEWS) — University of North Carolina (UNC) track assistant coach and former Olympic champion Antonio Pettigrew was found dead on Monday evening, the University said on Tuesday.

Antonio Pettigrew, 42, was found in his car, and UNC associate director of athletic communications Matt Bowers confirmed his death.

No further details were available, but Bowers said that the Athletic Department and UNC Track and Field head coach Dennis Craddock would release a statement soon.

Pettigrew graduated in 1993 from St. Augustine’s University in Raleigh, North Carolina where he excelled as a track star.

In 2000, Pettigrew won gold as a member of the American 4×400-meter relay team at the Sydney Olympics, but the team’s medals were later stripped after Pettigrew admitted in testimony that he had used human growth hormone and EPO over a four year period.

However, last month, the team won their appeal of the IOC’s decision, restoring their medals.

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