| Salt Lake City |
 |
 |
| GER |
12 |
16 |
7 |
35 |
 |
| USA |
10 |
13 |
11 |
34 |
|
| NOR |
11 |
7 |
6 |
24 |
|
| CAN |
6 |
3 |
8 |
17 |
|
| RUS |
6 |
6 |
4 |
16 |
|
| AUT |
2 |
4 |
10 |
16 |
|
| ITA |
4 |
4 |
4 |
12 |
|
| FRA |
4 |
5 |
2 |
11 |
|
| SUI |
3 |
2 |
6 |
11 |
|
| NED |
3 |
5 |
0 |
8 |
|
|
|
|
IOC probing 2 positive drug tests
Associated Press
LAUSANNE, Switzerland — The International Olympic Committee is investigating two more positive drug tests from the Salt Lake Winter Games.
One case involves the steroid nandrolone, and the other involves the stimulant methamphetamine, the IOC said Friday. It didn't identify the athletes or sports involved pending a hearing.
If the tests are confirmed as doping violations, the IOC executive board would disqualify the athletes and strip them of any medals.
IOC medical director Patrick Schamasch said hearings likely would be held early in the week beginning March 11.
Usually, the IOC deals with positive tests at the Olympics within 36 hours. But since the tests came late in the Games and Olympic officials have gone home, the process will take longer.
A similar situation occurred after the 2000 Sydney Olympics. German freestyle wrestler Alexander Leipold was stripped of his gold medal in the 167 1/2-pound class, and the medal was awarded to the losing finalist, Brandon Slay of the United States.
The IOC said all samples from Salt Lake had now been analyzed and accounted for. A total of 1,960 tests — 642 in-competition urine tests, 96 out-of-competition urine controls and 1,222 blood screening tests — were conducted during the Games.
The IOC said the figure represents a threefold increase over the 621 tests conducted at the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano, Japan.
Meanwhile, Austrian officials contend there were legitimate medical reasons for the blood-transfusion equipment found in a house used by their cross-country skiers during the Olympics.
The head of the IOC's drug agency on Friday called the explanation "far-fetched."
The Austrian ski federation said its athletes used the material for ultraviolet radiation treatment of their blood, describing the method as being "exclusively for disease prevention" and not doping.
"First, it doesn't sound credible," IOC medical director Patrick Schamasch said. "Second, any kind of blood manipulation is part of the doping definition. The Austrian position is not relevant for me."
World Anti-Doping Agency chairman Dick Pound said "it sounds so far-fetched that it has no credibility. It's clear there are teams that are putting medical experts into a mode of helping their athletes cheat. That is clearly unacceptable."
Blood doping, in which athletes draw blood and then inject it to increase oxygen capacity and boost endurance, is banned by the International Olympic Committee.
The IOC began an investigation Thursday after cleaners found blood transfusion bags, tubes and needles in a closet in Midway, Utah, near the nordic ski venue at Soldier Hollow. The house had been rented to the Austrian team and was used by about 10 athletes.
Wasatch County Sheriff Mike Spano gathered the evidence and turned it over to doping controls officials of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for analysis. Spano said the equipment had been drained of all but residual blood, indicating it had been used.
The IOC said it may use DNA testing to determine who was using the equipment.
Schamasch said the investigation would take about a week. If there is proof of doping, the IOC could take sanctions against the Austrians, including possible disqualifications and stripping of any medals.
"Everything may be considered," Schamasch said by telephone from Lausanne, Switzerland, adding that IOC President Jacques Rogge is "fully committed to go until the end of this case."
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March 2, 2002
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