Doping Creeps Into Pan Ams, Host Nation Athlete Tests Positive
August 2, 1999 - 0:0
WINNIPEG, Manitoba Doping crept into the 13th Pan American Games, tainting the event when the Pan American Sports Organization notified the host nation Canada that one of its athletes had failed a drug test. There was no indication of which athlete, which sport or which banned substance was involved, but Paso's Medical Commission met Saturday night to determine if a violation occurred and was to announce its findings Sunday morning.
It was the first positive test at the regional olympics. On the field of play, Cuba appeared to be trying to get as much out the momentum it created only a day before. After winning five golds on the final day of athletics Friday night, the Caribbean Communist Nation kept things going in their direction Saturday, advancing to the semifinals in their beloved baseball and stunning the Americans in women's basketball.
Solo homers from Luis Ulacia and Gabriel Pierre lifted Cuba over the Dominican Republic 3-1 in baseball and sent it to a meeting against unbeaten Canada on Sunday. Later, Cuba's women shocked the United States 95-64 in basketball, handing the Americans their worst loss in Pan Ams play. Cuba also toppled host Canada in men's volleyball, advancing to the final against Brazil. With only 16 medals on Saturday's calendar, much of the focus of the Pan Ams 10th day of competition switched to team sports.
Argentina's men routed Trinidad 7-1 and, like their female teammates, qualified for the field hockey final to assure their country of at least a silver medal. Of the medals up for grabs, most (10) were in sailing. Host Canada came away the biggest winner on Lake Winnipeg, Capturing three golds thanks to Richard Clarke in men's Finn, Oskar Johansson in Sunfish and Kelly hand in women's laser radial.
The Americans picked up two in sailing but also mined a pair of golds in modern pentathlon, men's and women's, and three more in track cycling to increase their overall gold total to 69, more than double their closest rival, Cuba, remained with 33. In baseball, the Cuba-Dominican game pitted two of the better sides in the nine-team event, made possible when Cuba lost two of its opening round games to the United States and Canada. But the Cubans rallied Saturday, getting six innings-plus of six hit ball out of Jose Contreras and three more of one-hit ball from Luis Lazo, who had five strikeouts.
Canada remained the only unbeaten team in the tournament with a 12-2 victory over Guatamala in seven innings. Mexico beat Nicaragua 5-1 and was to play the United States, 5-2 winners over Panama, in the other semi. In other matters relating to Cuba, the 42 chefs de mission of the Pan Ams issued a statement Saturday, condemning the actions of ``Some journalists and sports agents'' for ``negative actions that have affected not only Cuba, but all of the Americas and that have interfered with the Olympic movement and the spirit of equality and good sportsmanship.'' It said the acts by the journalists and agents are ``compromising'' the games ideals of ``freedom, friendship and fraternity.'' (AP)
It was the first positive test at the regional olympics. On the field of play, Cuba appeared to be trying to get as much out the momentum it created only a day before. After winning five golds on the final day of athletics Friday night, the Caribbean Communist Nation kept things going in their direction Saturday, advancing to the semifinals in their beloved baseball and stunning the Americans in women's basketball.
Solo homers from Luis Ulacia and Gabriel Pierre lifted Cuba over the Dominican Republic 3-1 in baseball and sent it to a meeting against unbeaten Canada on Sunday. Later, Cuba's women shocked the United States 95-64 in basketball, handing the Americans their worst loss in Pan Ams play. Cuba also toppled host Canada in men's volleyball, advancing to the final against Brazil. With only 16 medals on Saturday's calendar, much of the focus of the Pan Ams 10th day of competition switched to team sports.
Argentina's men routed Trinidad 7-1 and, like their female teammates, qualified for the field hockey final to assure their country of at least a silver medal. Of the medals up for grabs, most (10) were in sailing. Host Canada came away the biggest winner on Lake Winnipeg, Capturing three golds thanks to Richard Clarke in men's Finn, Oskar Johansson in Sunfish and Kelly hand in women's laser radial.
The Americans picked up two in sailing but also mined a pair of golds in modern pentathlon, men's and women's, and three more in track cycling to increase their overall gold total to 69, more than double their closest rival, Cuba, remained with 33. In baseball, the Cuba-Dominican game pitted two of the better sides in the nine-team event, made possible when Cuba lost two of its opening round games to the United States and Canada. But the Cubans rallied Saturday, getting six innings-plus of six hit ball out of Jose Contreras and three more of one-hit ball from Luis Lazo, who had five strikeouts.
Canada remained the only unbeaten team in the tournament with a 12-2 victory over Guatamala in seven innings. Mexico beat Nicaragua 5-1 and was to play the United States, 5-2 winners over Panama, in the other semi. In other matters relating to Cuba, the 42 chefs de mission of the Pan Ams issued a statement Saturday, condemning the actions of ``Some journalists and sports agents'' for ``negative actions that have affected not only Cuba, but all of the Americas and that have interfered with the Olympic movement and the spirit of equality and good sportsmanship.'' It said the acts by the journalists and agents are ``compromising'' the games ideals of ``freedom, friendship and fraternity.'' (AP)