 White won 100m and 200m gold at the world championships in Paris |
US Olympic officials have come clean over the positive drug tests of seven athletes including high profile sprinter Kelli White. Six months after White tested positive for modafinil at June's USA Track and Field Championships, the US Olympic Committee finally confirmed her identity.
She tested positive again at the World Championships in August in Paris, where she won the 100m and 200m gold medals.
America's athletics officials had come under increasing worldwide criticism for their apparently lenient stance and failiure to name athletes failing tests.
The International Olympic Committee say they are encouraged by the announcement of the seven positive tests.
Arne Ljungqvist, chairman of the IOC Medical commission, said: "It may be they are feeling under pressure from the IOC, which they are, to disclose whatever they know.
"A recent review resulted in our request to them to come back to us on many cases and tell us whatever they may have."
US Olympic officials chose New Year's Eve to release White's name and that of six other athletes, and only after a 30-day review by the US Anti-Doping Agency. The USOC confirmed:
- Sprinters Chryste Gaines, Sandra Glover and Eric Thomas also tested positive for modafinil at the US track championships in June
- Hurdler Chris Phillips, tested positive for modafinil at the World Championships in Paris
- Hammer thrower John McEwen tested positive for modafinil and the newly discovered steroid THG
- Cyclist Adham Sbeih became the first US athlete to test positive for the endurance-boosting hormone EPO at the US cycling championships in August
All seven are challenging their test results. White says she was prescribed modafinil for a sleeping disorder.
She and Gaines are coached by Remy Korchemny, who also coaches British sprinter Dwain Chambers, now facing a two-year suspension for THG.
 | DRUG PENALTIES Modafinil: Disqualification at the event where a positive test occurs, but no suspension THG: Maximum two-year ban EPO: Maximum two-year ban |
Modafinil, which stimulates the nervous system and combats tiredness, is not on the banned list but is related to drugs that are prohibited.
It is likely to be forbidden at the 2004 Olympic Games.
No decision has yet been taken on whether White will hbe stripped of her medals from Paris.
A USOC statement said: "Currently, all seven athletes are disputing their cases in the adjudication process. If a sanction is imposed, the USADA will make the announcement at a later date."
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Inside a drugs test
