Pubdate: Thu, 07 Dec 2000
Source: Standard-Examiner (UT)
Copyright: Ogden Publishing Corporation, 2000
Contact:  P.O. Box 951 Ogden, UT 84402
Website: http://www.standard.net/
Forum: http://www1.standard.net/utah_central/forums.asp

DRUG CZAR - NARCOTICS PUT ATHLETES UNDER SUSPICION

PARK CITY - White House drug czar Barry McCaffrey urged Utah
Wednesday to build on the work of the Sydney Games to do away with
performance-enhancing drugs that once were commonplace in the
Olympics, saying such drugs place all athletes under a "cloud of suspicion."

McCaffrey spoke Wednesday to the Utah Olympic Public Safety Command,
urging its members to emphasize anti-doping measures when Salt Lake
City hosts the 2002 Winter Games.

"We have the opportunity to have the most drug-free Games in history,"
he said.

McCaffrey is in Utah to convene the White House Task Force on Drugs in
Sports for the first time. The task force of Olympic officials,
athletes and others meets Thursday in Salt Lake City to discuss ways
to stop drug use among athletes.

"The Salt Lake Organizing Committee has the primary responsibility for
running the cleanest Games ever, but they can't do it alone," he said.

McCaffrey told reporters there was "no question" the International
Olympic Committee had failed to report athletes' positive drug tests
in the past. But he said new and intensified drug testing at the
Summer Games at Sydney marked a turning point.

The USOC relinquished its anti-drug efforts to the U.S. anti-doping
agency after those Games. McCaffrey said it was important to take the
enforcement of drug use away from organizations charged with
supporting the Olympics.

The anti-doping agency plans to conduct 5,000 drug tests next year --
half of them unannounced, out-of-competition screenings.

The IOC also has created a semi-independent World Anti-Doping Agency,
which McCaffrey said needs more independence to be completely effective.

"I think they're moving in the right direction," he
said.

Although drug use among athletes has traditionally been thought
limited to sports such as weightlifting and swimming, McCaffrey said
drugs are being used by other athletes that want to train harder and
recover quickly -- and aren't afraid to cheat to accomplish that.
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