American sprinter Tyree Washington was presented the 2003 world athletics championships' 400 meters gold medal on Saturday.

The runner-up at the 2003 worlds earned the honor after the initial winner Jerome Young was banned for life in 2004 after a second doping offence.

Doug Logan, chief executive of the USA Track and Field, presented a duplicate medal by the IAAF to Washington on Saturday.

"It's always a blessing that I get the opportunity to come back to get my world championship medal that was rightfully due to me," said Washington, who retired last year.

Young admitted to using prohibited substances and agreed to return the medal last year.

(Xinhua News Agency June 29, 2009)