I failed the test: Young

US sprinter Jerome Young, who won the 400 metres gold medal at the World Championships this week, has admitted he failed a drugs test in 1999, the Los Angeles Times reported on Friday.

IOC taps on US8217; dope closet

The IOC asked US Olympic officials and track8217;s world governing body to investigate allegations that American runner Jerome Young was allowed to compete in the Sydney Olympics despite a positive drug test. IOC president Jacques Rogge sent a letter to the US Olympic Committee and the International Association of Athletics Federations 8216;8216;strongly urging them to pursue the matter.8217;8217; Rogge also asked the World Anti-Doping Agency to assistthe inquiry 8220;by using all means and powers at its disposal8221;. The International Olympic Committee8217;s intervention came aday after a report in the Los Angeles Times that Young tested positive for steroids in 1999 but was cleared to run in the 2000 Sydney Games.

On Wednesday, the newspaper alleged Young had tested positive for the anabolic steroid nandrolone in 1999, but had been subsequently cleared by the governing body of American athletics and allowed to compete at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. The newspaper8217;s website on Friday quoted Young as saying in an interview about the dope test: 8216;8216;It8217;s something that happened. It8217;s all past, and it8217;s something I don8217;t want to talk about. Not at all.8217;8217;

Young won a gold medal in the 4215;400 metres relay in Sydney, even though he did not race in the final.

Referring to the dope test, Young told the LA Times: 8216;8216;It8217;s something that8217;s a closed door. I don8217;t even think about it now. 8216;8216;I8217;m keeping focused. I don8217;t let things distract me.8217;8217;

On Thursday, the International Olympic Committee urged the world governing athletics body and the US Federation to pursue the newspaper allegations about Young. Reuters