Russian Athletes Stripped Of Medals For Using Drugs

In the first drug scandal of the Summer Games, two Russian athletes were stripped of bronze medals Sunday by the International Olympic Committee for using performance-enhancing stimulants.

A third Olympian, cyclist Rita Razmaite from Lithuania, also tested positive for drug use, but she did not medal.

All three athletes were found to have used a new drug called bromantan, a stimulant produced by the Russian Pharmaceutical Institute.

Michele Verdier, media director for the Olympic committee, said this was the first time bromantan had been discovered at the Games.

“It enhances performance and can be considered a masking agent,” Verdier said.

The two Russian athletes stripped of medals were Andrei Korneev, a swimmer who finished third in the 200 meter breaststroke, and Zafar Gouliev, a bronze medalist in Greco Roman wrestling.

Tennis fans nearly riot

Olympic security officials called in extra policemen to control the crowd after fans protested a scheduling change that was going to prevent them from seeing Andre Agassi.

When spectators were told Agassi wouldn’t be playing in the stadium as scheduled, they delayed a women’s match with persistent booing and chanting.

And when 200 to 300 angry fans gathered outside an adjacent court where the revised schedule called for Agassi to play, officials feared they would storm the gates.

More than 20 police cars arrived, but the situation remained tense until an official announced the schedule change had been reversed, and Agassi would play in the stadium as originally planned.

IAAF won’t punish Christie

British sprinter Linford Christie will not be reprimanded for refusing to leave the track after being disqualified from the 100-meter final for two false starts, the IAAF said.

Rival competitors angrily accused Christie of disrupting Saturday night’s race, won by Canada’s Donovan Bailey in a world-record 9.84 seconds. But Istvan Gyulai, general secretary of the International Amateur Athletic Federation, said there was no reason to punish Christie.

It’s not Mr. Rogers’ neighborhood

Imagine mugging a 240-pound hammer thrower.

It happened twice to Balazs Kiss of Hungary in the neighborhood around the University of Southern California during his freshman year.

“Usually people see me and walk on the other side of the street,” said Kiss, 24, who became one of the few recent athletes to win both NCAA and Olympic titles in the same year.

Kiss was first mugged and robbed by two men with a knife and gun. They relieved him of his wallet and watch.

“The second time, I wasn’t even scared,” Kiss said. “I just handed over my wallet and bag. I didn’t have a watch any more.

“I wasn’t considering going home. It’s the jungle, and you have to adapt. South Central Los Angeles isn’t the safest place in the world, but I consider it my second home.”

Beach volleyball a big hit

Beach volleyball isn’t officially on the schedule for Sydney 2000 yet, but silver medalist Mike Dodd, 38, of El Segundo, Calif., has no doubt it will be. “It’s just a matter of how big they want to build the stadium,” he said at a post-competition press conference, praising the enthusiastic sell-out crowds at Atlanta Beach in Jonesboro, Ga.

His partner, 34-year-old Mike Whitmarsh, agreed. “I don’t know if Mike and I will be back, though,” he said.

Dodd leaned over confidentially. “I gotta find a younger blocker,” he said.

Italians celebrate prematurely

A premature celebration nearly cost Italy the bronze medal in water polo.

As the final seconds ticked down, and with Italy leading 16-15, some members of the Italian team jumped into the pool in celebration. But there were still 2 seconds left, and Hungary was given a penalty shot and converted to force overtime.

Italy wound up winning, 20-18.

U.S. protest denied

Boxing officials rejected a protest of the scoring in a loss by U.S. super heavyweight Lawrence Clay-Bey.

U.S. team officials had filed a protest over the scoring of Saturday’s fight, claiming Vladimir Klitchko of Ukraine was given credit for two blows landed by Clay-Bey during a late flurry in the fight.