Marijuana Found Among Few Athletes at Seoul

Marijuana was found among a small group of Olympic athletes during the Summer Games at Seoul, but no penalties were imposed, the International Olympic Committee’s drug commission chief said Friday. Marijuana is not among the substances banned by the IOC.

Prince Alexandre de Merode said that fewer than 10 of the 1,601 athletes who were tested for drugs showed signs of marijuana use, but it is not known if marijuana was used at the Games. Merode would not give details of the test results or divulge the names of the athletes, their countries or sports.

“(Marijuana use) was nowhere near as dramatic as members from some areas suspected,” Merode said. “. . . . Our view is (marijuana) is a not a problem of sport, as cocaine is. It is more a social problem.”