Augusta Georgia: Nagano@ugusta: Headlines for Notebook from Nagano 2/11/98

@ugusta navigation - Early browsers, use text links at bottom

Bobsled

Curling

Biathlon

Hockey

Ski Jumping

Luge

Downhill

Cross-Country

Freestyle

Canadian snowboarding champion Ross Rebagliati, of Whistler B.C., is mobbed by the media as he arrives for his appeal before the International Olympic Committee in Nagano, Japan Wednesday Feb. 11, 1998. Rebagliati, who won the first-ever Olympic gold medal for snowboarding in the men's giant slalom Sunday, became the first athlete to test positive for drugs at the Nagano Games.FRANK GUNN/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Notebook from Nagano

Web posted February 12, 1998

By Dennis Sodomka
Morris News Service

NAGANO -- So if one sport had a gold medalist disqualified for using marijuana wouldn't you know it would be the free spirits of snowboarding?

Canadian snowboarder Ross Rebagliati lost his giant slalom medal when a urine test detected traces of cannabis. Rebagliati said the last time he used marijuana was April 1997, but he spends "a significant amount of time'' in the company of users, including at a farewell party for him before his trip to Nagano.

The Canadian Olympic Association is fighting to decrease the penalty to a severe reprimand.

"This is a tough one,'' said Carol Anne Letheren, chief executive officer of the COA. "It is the first time the sport has been in the Olympic Games. This will undoubtedly be bad for the sport. It is a provisional sport in these Games. And of course it is a gold medal, it's the first gold medal, and it's Canada.''

Asked what she thought about the incident American ladies' super G gold medalist rolled her eyes and said, "Well, snowboarders, you know."

Some of the jokes already making the Olympic rounds include the one comparing Rebagliati to President Bill Clinton, only the Canadian inhaled without smoking. Another said the snowboards took the Olympic motto of "Swifter, Higher, Stronger'' and made it "Higher, Higher, Higher."

The U.S. women finished sixth, seventh and eighth in the individual luge race. Silke Kraushaar of Germany was first, .002 seconds ahead of teammate Barbara Neidernhuber over the four heats. Angelika Neuner of Austria won the bronze medal. Erin Warren led the U.S. contingent, followed by Cammy Myler and Bethany Calcaterra-McMahon.

In men's doubles training runs Wednesday the U.S. pair of Mark Grimmette and Brian Martin had the fastest time in two of three runs and the second fastest on the other run. They race Friday, attempting to win the first U.S. luge medal.

For the third time in Olympic speed skating history, German women made a clean sweep of gold, silver and bronze.

Gunda Niemann-Stirnemman, Claudi Pechstein and Anna Friseinger each broke the Olympic record in the women's 3,000-meter event.

The top American woman was Jennifer Rodriguez in fourth, followed by Kirstin Holum in sixth. Cathy Raney finished 22d.

Mike Dionne, of Alpharetta, Ga., lost his appeal to have his suspension from bobsled racing rescinded. As a result Dionne cannot compete or stay in the Olympic Village.

His athlete's credential has been changed to an official's credential.

Dionne will have access to the bobsled venue at Iizuna Kogen to watch training and competition. He also will be able to keep his team clothing. He will stay at the U.S. Olympic Committee's hotel for officials.

The suspension occurred when he tested positive for ephedrine in late November. The source of the banned substance was an over-the-counter cold medicine.

[Past Articles] [Back to Nagano@ugusta]