The Americans, with a formidable record in the men's 4x100M, were the first to fall victim to a botched baton exchange as the heats were gone through in wet weather conditions. Then it spread like wildfire and eight more teams followed the Americans out of the competition, including Great Britain, champions last time.

Most badly hit was Tyson Gay, world champion in 100 and 200. Having failed to make the final of the 100 metres, his only hope of a medal here was in the relay. But Darvis Patton failed to make a clean pass over to Gay, running the anchor, and the Americans, fifteen-time champions in this event, bowed out.

Both Gay and Patton vied with each other to take the blame. "I dropped it. People say if it hits your hand, you should have it," said Gay. "It is my job to make sure he had it secure. I thought he had it secure, so I take the blame for this," said Patton.

Minutes later, their women's team, winners nine times, went the same way. This time, Torri Edwards and Lauryn Williams were the culprits, as the baton slipped out of the latter's hands. She picked it up and sprinted away but by then it was too late.

At Athens in 2004, Williams and Marion Jones were involved in a similar mishap, leading to the Americans' exit from the event in the final.

In the women's relay, France, Trinidad and Tobago, Italy and Ukraine joined the Americans on the sidelines. Italy, Ukraine and the US were disqualified for late changeover. On the men's side, Nigeria, Poland, South Africa and the US had a DNF (Did Not Finish) against their name while Britain and Italy were disqualified for zone violation.