DOPING…
Out of fear of a pending scandal, the Chinese Olympic team announced Wednesday that the 170 expected to participate in the 2000 Summer Games will be reduced. The announcement came shortly after an international rowing official confirmed that seven of the 17 of China’s rowing team were axed from the team for irregular blood levels. The decision was deemed by analysts to be proof that the country is screening its athletes at the risk of another drug scandal — at the world championships in 1998, a female swimmer from China was caught with the human drug hormone.
An Uzbekistani official was caught with HDH at the Sydney Airport on Wednesday. If convicted, he will face expulsion from the Games and potentially severe legal action.
Edmonton’s Robin Lyons, who set a meet record in the hammerthrow at the Olympic trials last month, has tested positive for norandosterone. The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport conducted the test August 29, and CEO Victor Lachance confirmed Wednesday that Lyons’s norandosterone levels were five times the level that the human body can naturally produce. Lyons will appeal the decision.
…AND THE GUY WHO NEEDS IT
If you’ve not heard of Palau, you are forgiven. The remote archipelago nation in the West Pacific, sent 19-year-old swimmer Anlloyd Samuel, winner of eight golds and a silver at their national championships in 1997, to Sydney for the 50-metre freestyle event. Problem was he had never been in a pool before. Barely able to swim a length two weeks ago, coach Dick Caine’s training program has whipped Samuel into a strong swimmer, but not a contender. His best time of 27.23 seconds is well back of Alexander Popov’s world record time of 21.64. Sydney will be Palau’s debut at the Olympic Games. They are also sending a weightlifter and two runners.
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