US Olympian found dead

CHAPEL HILL, North Carolina (AP):

Former Olympic sprinter Antonio Pettigrew, who was stripped of a relay gold after admitting doping, was found dead early yesterday.

North Carolina University spokesman Matt Bowers said that Pettigrew, an assistant track coach at the school, was discovered in his car. No other details were available. A call to the Cha-tham County sheriff's department wasn't immediately returned.

Pettigrew, 42, was part of the 4x400 metres US relay team that won the gold medal in the Sydney Olympics in 2000, but the Inter-national Olympic Committee stripped the team of the medals two years ago after Pettigrew admitted doping during a trial against former coach Trevor Graham.

Pettigrew had spent four seasons at North Carolina and focused on sprints, hurdle and relays. He graduated from St Augus-tine's in Raleigh in 1992.

In a statement, North Carolina athletics director Dick Baddour said the school was "deeply saddened" to learn of Pettigrew's death.

"I was particularly impressed with the relationships he established with our student-athletes and the pride he took in representing the University of North Carolina," Baddour said.

Pettigrew is survived by his wife, Cassandra, and a son, Antonio Pettigrew Jr.