BEIJING — The 1,600-meter relay world record set by the United States in 1998 was scrapped today because of Antonio Pettigrew's admission of doping.

Michael Johnson, Tyree Washington and Jerome Young also were on the team that set the record of 2 minutes, 54.20 seconds in Uniondale, N.Y., on July 22, 1998.

"The IAAF is sending a clear message that we will not tolerate doping," said Lamine Diack, the president of track and field's governing body.

The previous world record of 2:54.29 was set by the American team of Andrew Valmon, Quincy Watts, Butch Reynolds and Johnson at the 1993 world championships in Stuttgart, Germany.

USA Track and Field spokeswoman Jill Geer told The Associated Press that her group supports the decision.

"Certainly the IAAF action sends a strong message," she said.

She said there won't be a decision until December on wiping out the mark as an American record.

Pettigrew admitted in court in May that he had used performance-enhancing drugs, and USATF chief executive officer Doug Logan said last month he wanted the record erased as a national mark because it was tainted.

Pettigrew admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs dating to 1997. As a result, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency has invalidated all of Pettigrew's marks since that date.

Young has also been in trouble for doping. He was eligible in 1998 but was banned for life for a second doping violation in 2004. This year, after Young admitted to more doping, USADA invalidated his results to Jan. 1, 1999.