The fate of a doping-tainted US Olympic relay gold medal is expected to be sealed next month at an International Olympic Committee meeting in Dubai, the IOC said on Friday.
The women's 4x400 metres relay team could be stripped of their Athens 2004 Olympics gold medal after relay alternate Crystal Cox was handed a four-year ban earlier this year for using banned substances between 2001 and 2004.
"A decision on this matter is expected (at the IOC Executive Board meeting) in April," an IOC official told Reuters.
The IOC has set up a disciplinary commission which will report to the board on April 28-30, the official said.
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) earlier this month recommended the relay team be stripped of its medal.
Traditionally, the IOC has taken medals back from national relay teams when one member, including alternates, has been suspended for or admitted to doping.
Cox ran in the preliminary round of the Athens Games where the American team of Monique Henderson, Monique Hennagan, Sanya Richards and Deedee Trotter won gold. Russia took silver and Jamaica bronze.
The IOC stripped the Sydney 2000 Olympics US women's 4x100 bronze medallists and 4x400 gold medal winners because of doping admissions by sprinter Marion Jones.
Her team mates have appealed the decision.
The IOC also took the Sydney Games gold medals of the US men's 4x400 relay team that included Michael Johnson because of doping violations by Jerome Young and Antonio Pettigrew.
