musclepump

Olympic officials want Italy to suspend jail penalty for steroid users


By MERI-JO BORZILLERI

The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.)



COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Organizers of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, are working to temporarily suspend Italy's law that has athletes facing criminal charges for possession or use of performance-enhancing drugs, Turin officials said Wednesday at the U.S. Olympic team media summit.

Athletes would be subject to punishment that may include jail time.

"That's really harsh," said Apolo Ohno, the short-track speedskating star, when informed of the law. "I did not know about it."

International Olympic Committee rules call only for disqualifications or suspensions for athletes who break anti-doping rules.

The law has raised the specter of police raids at the Olympic village during the Feb.10-26 Games. Despite a reputation as stridently anti-doping, IOC president Jacques Rogge plans to meet with Italy premier Silvio Berlusconi next month to discuss a temporary moratorium.

Calling it one of the most controversial issues of the Olympics, Turin organizing committee media director Giuseppe Gattino said officials are attempting to suspend the law for 60 days next winter during a period that includes the Games.

Ohno, who trains in Colorado Springs, is a strong supporter of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency's efforts to eradicate doping and said he believes even some nutritional supplements should be banned.

Still, in Italy "the penalties are really high," he said.

Hall of Fame inductees named

Colorado Springs resident Rowdy Gaines, three-time gold medalist in swimming in the 1984 Olympics, will join track and field stars Bob Hayes and Evelyn Ashford, along with skating's Kristi Yamaguchi and "Miracle on Ice" hockey coach Herb Brooks, among others, as inductees to the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, the U.S. Olympic Committee announced Wednesday.

Induction ceremonies will take place Dec.8 in Chicago and a TV special on the class of 2006 will air early next year.

Other members of the class are: the 1984 U.S. men's gymnastics team that included Bart Conner, Tim Daggett, Mitch Gaylord and Wasson High graduate Scott Johnson; gymnast Shannon Miller; speedskater Jack Shea; Paralympian Diana Golden-Brosnihan; and NBC chairman Dick Ebersol.

Gaines works for Colorado Springs-based USA Swimming and as a TV analyst.

Ohno, others say yes to just say no

Ohno and nine prominent athletes star in a new anti-doping campaign announced by the USOC and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.

"Celebrating the Value of Fair Play," is the theme of public service announcements to appear on television, radio and in movie theaters nationwide. Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls participating are short-track speedskater Ohno, bobsledder Vonetta Flowers, sled hockey goalie Manny Guerra, long-track speedskater Jennifer Rodriguez, figure skater Michelle Kwan, moguls skier Jeremy Bloom, and hockey players Angela Ruggiero, Jenny Potter and Julie Chu.

Let's all join together and SPEAK ENGLISH IN AMERICA.

Devlin

Why suspend the policy....if there is a strict anti doping policy then they should not be using or have it on them so no need to fear jail. The atheletes are completely aware of the stict no doping policy and if they choice to ignore than they should deal with the results if caught with it in or on them.

musclepump

I think it'd be great to see someone lose their medal AND go to jail for doping... I don't mind if people use steroids as long as they aren't in a drug tested sport. I think this would be awesome for the Olympics.

Let's all join together and SPEAK ENGLISH IN AMERICA.

Stu

just further proves that half the atheletes at the olympics are juiced up

rrgg

Finally someone who's not a hypocrite about pro athletes and steroids. Make them legal or charge athletes who test positive. Maybe if we see "celebs" going to jail for this, people will realize how moronic the steroid laws are, especially in the States.

Contact info: rrgg on hotmail.com

Devlin

After reading the full anti-doping policy, I'd say more than half are doing something. Plus the policy states that for Olympic atheletes are banned from using both in and out of competition. There are drugs listed, such as insulin, that are banned and if one is a diabetic you have to prove it in order to be able to use insulin and compete.


[url]http://www.usantidoping.org[ur]
The use of any drug should be limited to medically justified indications SUBSTANCES AND METHODS PROHIBITED AT ALL TIMES (IN- AND OUT-OF-COMPETITION