We present the results from an experiment dedicated to measure the lifetime of the 2 2 + state, candidate for the one-phonon mixed-symmetry state, of 208 Po. This nucleus was studied in the α -transfer reaction 204 Pb( 12 C, 8 Be) 208 Po and the lifetime of the 2 2 + state was determined by utilizing the Doppler-shift attenuation method. The experimental data show that the 2 2 + state decays with a sizable M1 transition to the 2 1 + state revealing its isovector nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]