Winter Olympic Notes : IOC Gets Criticism for Selecting Princess Anne

The International Olympic Committee named five new members Thursday, including Great Britain’s Princess Anne.

The Royal Princess, 37, also is president of the British Olympic Assn. and the International Equestrian Federation. But there was criticism of her anticipated selection to the IOC in Great Britain because of the Royal Family’s close ties to the government. In theory, IOC members are expected to be independent.

There is still resentment among British athletic officials because of support given to the government’s decision to boycott the 1980 Moscow Olympics by the Duke of Edinburgh, Princess Anne’s father.

Others elected were Dr. Fidel Mendoza Carrasquilla, 62, of Colombia; Wu Ching Kuo, 41, of Taiwan; Ram Ruhee, 60, of Mauritius; and Tay Wilson, 63, of New Zealand.

The day after the IOC concluded it had no evidence that could result in sanctions against Soviet speed skater Nikolai Guliaev, the International Skating Union announced it has also ended its investigation.

Norwegian speed skater Bjorn Nyland said he received a package of anabolic steroids from Guliaev two months ago in Austria with instructions to pass them on to another Norwegian skater, Stein Krosby. Guliaev told ISU officials he was unaware of the content of the package.

“It’s not possible that he didn’t know,” ISU general secretary Beat Haesler of Switzerland said. “But we have the same evidence the IOC has. We have no proof.”

Prince Alexander de Merode of Belgium, chairman of the IOC’s medical commission, said Thursday the IOC will have severe penalties in the future for athletes who are involved in drug trafficking, even if they use Guliaev’s excuse. The Norwegian federation suspended Krosby.