Olympics notebook

By Compiled from Times wires

Ex-U.S. Olympic medical official alleges more drug use SYDNEY, Australia -- U.S. Olympic athletes commonly used banned drugs and the U.S. Olympic Committee covered up positive tests, the U.S. Olympic Committee's former medical chief alleged in a sworn affidavit.

Dr. Robert Voy, chief medical officer from 1983 to 1989, also said the USOC had no interest in curbing the use of such drugs. Its doping program, he said, encouraged the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

The allegations are contained in a signed affidavit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Denver. A copy of the document was obtained by the Associated Press.

"Based on my experience and expertise, I believe the use of performance enhancing drugs is common among American Olympic-level athletes," Voy said.

The affidavit was submitted in support of Dr. Wade Exum, the USOC's former director of drug control programs. Exum filed a federal suit against the USOC in July, accusing the organization of encouraging the doping of athletes.

The USOC, which has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, dismissed Voy's allegations.

According to records Exum submitted to the court, of 5,355 tests the USOC administered in 1999, 207 were positive -- 158 for stimulants, 29 for steroids and 20 others. Only 10 resulted in suspensions.

A large number of the positive tests were the results of Salbutamol, an asthma drug; Ritalin, an amphetamine used to treat Attention Deficit Disorder; and ephedrine, a stimulant found in some over-the-counter cold medications.

MORE DRUGS: Weightlifting took another drug hit when the IOC said it had stripped a bronze medal from Armenian heavyweight Ashot Danielyan. Another non-medalist also was nabbed for drugs.

Danielyan, who lifted a total of 1,025 pounds, tested positive for nandrolone after his competition Tuesday, the final day of weightlifting. He was the fourth weightlifter to test positive at the games, but the first from a country other than Bulgaria.

IOC medical commission chairman Prince Alexander de Merode said a Greco-Roman wrestler, Fritz Aanes of Norway, also tested positive for nandrolone after losing a bronze-medal match Wednesday.

WELCOME HOME: About 1,000 well-wishers welcomed home gymnast Andreea Raducan with Romania -- and its sports authorities -- deeply bitter over a cold-medicine dispute that cost her the all-around gold medal.

"It is a lovely surprise on my birthday," said Raducan, who turned 17 Saturday. GARDNER CARRIES FLAG: Rulon Gardner, whose victory over Russia's Alexander Karelin in Greco-Roman wrestling provided one of the biggest upsets of the Games, carried the flag for the United States in this morning's Closing Ceremonies. Gardner, a first-time Olympian who grew up on a farm in Wyoming, was elected by other U.S. athletes. Each team nominates a candidate for flag bearer, and the athletes vote for one. "It all still shocks me," Gardner said. "I'm numb about all of this. Now for me to carry the flag is also so incredible."

Gardner might soon be carrying things for the World Wrestling Federation. The WWF inquired about his availability, and U.S. wrestling spokesman Gary Abbott said Gardner might consider an offer.

CEREAL STARS: Kellogg Co. announced it will put the faces of four prominent U.S. gold medal winners on boxes of breakfast cereals. Sprinters Maurice Greene and Marion Jones and swimmer Lenny Krayzelburg will join Tony the Tiger on boxes of Frosted Flakes, and swimmer Jenny Thompson will be featured on boxes of Crispix.

CALL TO THE FLAGS: Organizers urged Sydney residents not to steal thousands of flags hanging in the city ahead of the Paralympics. More than 10,000 of the colorful banners have been hung along Sydney streets during the Olympics and are due to stay until after the Oct. 18-29 Paralympics.

LONGLEY INJURY: Luc Longley's plans of arriving at the New York Knicks' training camp with fresh legs and a new start backfired when the Australian team's 7-foot center hyperextended his left knee in a semifinal loss to France.

Longley, who said he might miss two months of action while rehabilitating, was injured with about seven minutes left in Australia's 76-52 loss.