By JIM KERNAGHAN -- London Free Press
SYDNEY -- The reputation of American track and field was put into the hands of a relatively unknown Canadian yesterday.
In possibly one of the most important drug probes in athletic history, Richard McLaren has been asked to determine whether USA Track and Field has been systematically covering up positive drug tests.
McLaren, a member of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, will chair a three-member committee looking into allegations the USATF failed to disclose positive results of drug testing.
"Part of our mandate involves C.J. Hunter," said McLaren, a law professor at the University of Western Ontario in London, who specializes in dispute resolution.
Hunter, husband of track star Marion Jones, is the world shot put champion whose positive tests for the steroid nandralone apparently were suppressed by the USATF.
McLaren is the only Canadian on a 12-member ad hoc committee with the Court of Arbitration ruling on various disputes at the Olympics.
He will be assisted by two Americans, 1972 Olympic women's springboard diving champion Micki King and former Bethlehem Steel chief executive Curtis Barnett.
"We have full support in whatever recommendations we feel appropriate after a complete investigation into the rumours and allegations," said McLaren, a former NHL salary arbitrator.
McLaren said the investigation will be funded by the United States Olympic Foundation, a body independent of the USATF and the U.S. Olympic Committee.
American track and field has come under fire, especially from the International Amateur Athletic Federation, charging it systematically conceals positive drug tests.
Craig Masback, executive director of USATF, suggested yesterday that the new World Anti-Doping Agency handle all in-competition and out-of-competition tests for U.S. athletes and investigate any positive cases.
Dick Pound, the International Olympic Committee vice-president and WADA chairman, welcomed that proposal and said it should be extended to all countries and all sports.
"Ultimately, that's probably the best way for all this to be played out -- that all testing, for all national and international federations and national Olympic committees, be handled by an independent third party," Pound said.
LATEST TEST
McLaren said he considered his latest assignment a new challenge in what has been a challenging time here. Eighteen athletes have been thrown out of these Games for drug offences and McLaren has been involved in almost every one.
Yesterday he ruled against an appeal by a Romanian hammer-thrower escorted from action when tests of a previous meet showed positive and against a rowing crew in a photo finish seeking a shared gold medal when it was proved it was 12-1,000ths of a second behind.
-- with files from AP
