Mary Slaney Cleared By U.S. Track Group

Mary Slaney was cleared of drug use by U.S. track authorities Tuesday after more than a year of uncertainty that sidelined and embittered the nation’s most prominent female distance runner.

The ruling by the hearings board of USA Track and Field, the sport’s domestic governing body, came during the weekend in Chicago.

“Mary Slaney has been one of our outstanding athletes, and I am looking forward to seeing her compete once again,” USATF chief executive officer Craig Masback said. “I am also pleased that our process worked to afford her a fair hearing.”

Slaney was also suspended by the International Amateur Athletic Federation, the international authority. However, Slaney’s lawyer said the IAAF suspension stemmed from the USATF refusal to act on the case for so long.

Coleman declared Slaney “unsuspended.” The IAAF, headquartered in Monaco, was not immediately available to say if that were indeed the case.