IAAF refutes British finding on drugs

By Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 28, 2000

The International Amateur Athletic Federation is not ready to clear Mark Richardson's name.

Track and field's governing body discredited a British study on the steroid nandrolone that was used to exonerate Richardson, accused of drug use.

UK Athletics cleared Richardson, a 400-meter runner, when the organization's research panel concluded that dietary supplements combined with exercise can trigger positive results for nandrolone.

The IAAF dismissed the study and might send Richardson's case to arbitration.

Richardson and European 200-meter champion Doug Walker, also accused of nandrolone use, were cleared Tuesday to compete in Britain's Olympic trials at Birmingham next month.

TENNIS: Top seed Yevgeny Kafelnikov beat Sargis Sargsian 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in the third round of the Generali Open at Kitzbuehel, Austria. ... No. 6 seed Jan-Michael Gambill defeated Laurence Tieleman 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 in the Mercedes-Benz Cup at Los Angeles. ... Anna Kournikova advanced at the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, Calif., beating Jana Nejedly. ... No. 3 seed Karim Alami, No. 8 Jiri Vanek and two-time French Open champion Sergi Bruguera won at the San Marino Open.

SOCCER: Michelle Akers, Mia Hamm, Tiffeny Milbrett and Kristine Lilly were not in the starting lineup for the United States, and it showed. Norway dominated the first half before an own goal salvaged a 1-1 tie for the United States in an exhibition before 3,810 at Tromso, Norway, a small town north of the Arctic Circle. All four American stars entered as substitutes. In the 58th minute, Norwegian defender Goril Kringen saved Nikki Serlenga's hard shot from 16 yards on the goal line. When trying to clear the ball, Kringen accidentally hit her goalkeeper, Bente Nordby, and the ball bounced into the net. ... Measures to combat British hooliganism were approved in Parliament. The bill, which awaits Queen Elizabeth's signature, would allow police to prevent known and suspected hooligans from traveling to games abroad. ... FIFA confirmed it received South Africa's appeal of Germany's winning bid to host the 2006 World Cup but declined comment.

BASKETBALL: Harlem Globetrotters legend Meadowlark Lemon and longtime Philadelphia 76ers public relations director Harvey Pollack are finalists for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's John Bunn Award, the hall's highest honor outside of enshrinement.

SKIING: Olympians Bill Beck and Ned Gillette, filmmaker Dick Barrymore, equipment manufacturer Bob Lange, instructor Oleg Pedersen and resort developer Preston Leete Smith are new members of the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony is Sept. 30.

COLLEGE SWIMMING: Washington is dropping its men's and women's teams after the 2000-01 season, athletic director Barbara Hedges said.

BOXING: David Izon (26-3), a Nigerian living at Pensacola, reportedly is signed to fight Mike Tyson, but details need to be worked out before he gets into the ring with the former undisputed heavyweight champion. "It's close but it's not yet done," said Jay Larkin, in charge of boxing for the Showtime cable network, which would show the fight Sept. 8 or 9. ... Tony Ayala Jr., 5-0 since resuming his career after 16 years in prison, faces Yory Boy Campas tonight in a middleweight bout in San Antonio.

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