Yohan Blake’s $500,000 Watch Could Land Him In Trouble

Yohan Blake spelled trouble for every sprinter not named Usain Bolt at the 2012 London Olympics, but one little accessory could have the Jamaican runner himself in hot water.

Blake could face sanctions for the $500,000 wristwatch he has been sporting throughout the games, NESN.com reported. He wore the expensive Richard Mille Tourbillon watch throughout the Olympics including his silver medal winning sprint in the 100-meter final where he was surpassed only by country mate Usain Bolt’s Olympic record time.

While it might be unusual, or even a little tacky, to wear such a fancy timepiece during an athletic event, it’s not the fashion police that will be after Johan Blake. It’s the International Olympic Committee. The IOC is reportedly looking into whether Blake should be in trouble for wearing a watch not made by Omega, which is the official sponsor of the 2012 London Olympics.

Athletes are forbidden from promoting any brands other than those officials sponsors, and, since Richard Mille isn’t a sponsor, it technically isn’t permitted. The broken rule probably wouldn’t net the 22-year-old a very severe sanction, TNT Magazine reported. At worst he could end up with a slap on the wrist, right next to the black, green, and yellow watch, made to look like Jamaica’s flag.

Johan Blake isn’t the first athlete to wear an expensive Mille watch during a major sporting event, and it’s not the first time the timepiece has created controversy because of it, Yahoo! Sports noted. In June, Rafael Nadal wore a $525,000 Mille Tourbillion watch during the French Open, and American golfer Bubba Watson wore one during a PGA event, drawing criticism for the gaudy choice.

Johan Blake had a pretty good Olympics, punishments or not. The sprinter won silver in both the 100-meter and 200-meter finals thwarted only by Bolt as he became the first sprinter ever to win these events in consecutive Olympics.