Electronic Telegraph Friday 22 September 2000 Mihir Bose A NEW drugs controversy is threatening to overshadow the start of the athletics programme at the Olympic Games with allegations that the United States have covered up more than 20 positive tests. The dispute between the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) and US Track and Field (USTF), who deny the allegations, will cause more embarrassment for Olympic officials. It comes after news yesterday that two Bulgarian weightlifters, both medal winners in Sydney, tested positive for banned substances this week and a Czech cyclist had been sent home from the Games for a positive test in this month's Tour of Spain. USTF are said by a senior IAAF official in Sydney to have failed to report 17 positive tests in 1999, plus nine further positives on American athletes this year. IAAF rules state a national governing body must inform the international federation of details of all doping cases together with a report on any sanctions imposed. Professor Arne Ljungqvist, the Swedish chairman of the IAAF's anti-doping commission, said: "It has been happening for quite a few years. There are a number of adverse findings which the American federation decide to deal with themselves and not tell us about." Craig Masback, the chief executive of USTF, said he had heard the suggestion of 17 unreported cases from last year. "That's preposterous. It could be down to clerical error," he said. Eamonn Condon WWW.RunnersGoal.com
