White's status uncertain despite negative drug test
By Wire services
Published September 1, 2003
SAINT-DENIS, France - Kelli White passed a drug test after winning the 200 meters but could lose her two gold medals from the World Track and Field Championships, officials said Sunday.
The results from the second test were revealed one day after officials from the IAAF, the sport's governing body, said White had tested positive following her victory in the 100.
White took gold in the 100 on Aug.24 and the 200 Thursday, becoming the first American woman to win both at a world championship.
Though White tested negative after the 200, the IAAF said her positive test after the 100 would be enough to take away both medals.
"It would be wrong to say, "You are doping on Sunday, and you're out,' and then say, "You can win the same medal Thursday at the same championships,"' said Istvan Gyulai, general secretary of the IAAF. "I believe this is an important moral message."
The IAAF said Saturday that White risked being stripped of all championship results if found guilty of a doping offense and could face a two-year suspension that would rule her out of the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Gyulai said the IAAF was continuing to investigate the exact nature of modafinil, a prescription medication White said she used for a sleep disorder.
While not specified on the banned list, modafinil is covered under the stimulants category of "related substances," the IAAF said. Gyulai said the IAAF is trying to determine how to classify it and that could take four or five days.
After that, Gyulai said, the IAAF could: accept White's explanation and consider clearing her on grounds, disqualify her and give her a warning or disqualify her and recommend a two-year ban.
U.S. teams, meanwhile, finished the nine-day meet with wins in the men's and women's 4x400 relays.
The American women were trailing the Russians when 18-year-old Sanya Richards took the baton from Jearl Miles-Clark for the anchor leg. The Russians bungled the handoff and Richards took off.
Jerome Young, the 400 world champion, held off Marc Raquil of France in the men's relay.
Americans took home 20 medals, 10 of them gold, to lead all nations.
HORSES: Aldebaran ends Frankel's slump
Aldebaran came from far back to overtake Najran down the stretch and win the $250,000 Forego Handicap by 43/4 lengths at Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The 5-year-old Aldebaran, who captured this year's Met Mile, won for the fourth time in his last five starts and boosted his career earnings to more than $1.7-million. He was timed in 1:21.26 in the 7-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up. The win ended a slump for Bobby Frankel, the Hall of Fame trainer who was 0-for-18 at Saratoga since Medaglia d'Oro took the Whitney Handicap on Aug.2.
ALL AMERICAN DERBY: Snow Big Deal won the $699,000 race and set a record for the 440-yard distance at the Ruidoso Downs, N.M., track. Snow Big Deal got out of the gates cleanly, overtook early leader and stablemate Andthebeatgoeson about 150 yards from the wire, then held off a closing run from Talk About Me Oh My.
UNIVERSITY GAMES: U.S finishes with 36 medals
China retained its No.1 ranking while the United States failed to pull out of its slump, finishing with its fewest gold medals since 1975. Competition in Daegu, South Korea, ended with the host volleyball team edging Japan 3-2. The 2001 champion U.S. men's team settled for bronze, beating France. The Americans won 36 medals, including five gold, from nine sports. They didn't have representatives in men's basketball or track and field.
ET CETERA
MOTOCROSS: Ricky Carmichael clinched his fourth straight AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Championship, winning the 250cc race at Steel City Raceway Delmont, Pa. Carmichael, 23, of Havana, Fla., is the first rider to win four AMA 250cc Motocross titles. The win gave Carmichael a record 10 AMA national titles.
SOCCER: Brian West scored in the 37th minute to help Columbus get its first home win in two months, beating Kansas City 1-0 in MLS play. ... Jacksonville's Brett Surrency scored on the first shot of the game, and USF's Drew Helm also had a goal as the teams played to a 1-all, double-overtime tie in Tampa. Goalkeeper Peter Lechak made three saves for the Bulls (1-0-1). ... Joy McKenzie allowed two goals as Penn State beat host Florida State 2-1. The Seminoles dropped to 0-2. ... Tampa's Casie Poyssick and Sarah Wright had three goals each as host Saint Leo (2-0) downed Fontbonne University 8-1.
ROWING: The United States won the men's coxed four at the World Championships in Milan, Italy. The U.S. team of Brian McDounough, Matthew Deakin, Jason Flickinger, Lucas McGee and Marcus McElhenney as coxswain took an early lead and held off a late charge by Britain.
