Richards heartbroken to lose Olympic relay medal

United States sprinter Sanya Richards says the prospect of losing the first of her two Olympic golds medal because of a teammate\'s doping is heartbreaking.



The Jamaican-born Richards says the United States team\'s 4 x 400-metre relay victory at the 2004 Athens Games was special because it was her Olympic debut.



Now the individual 400 world champion, Richards says she\'s praying that the five Athens teammates of Crystal Cox, whose doping offenses came to light in January can eventually keep their title and medals.



The US Anti-Doping Agency said in January that Cox had admitted using anabolic steroids during her career. She accepted a four-year suspension and disqualification of her results from 2001 to 2004.



Cox ran in the Athens preliminary heat with Moushaumi Robinson, Monique Henderson and Richards. The US quartet in the final was DeeDee Trotter, Henderson, Richards and Monique Hennagan.



The International Association of Athletics Federation recommended in March that the US women\'s team be stripped of its Athens victory.



An International Olympic Committee (IOC) panel led by vice president Thomas Bach is examining the case.