In Brief : Coach Denies Drug-Test Cheating

Canadian national weightlifting coach Andrzej Kulesza denied today that he supplied urine to four Canadian weightlifters in a bid to cheat in drug tests before last year’s Seoul Olympics.

On Wednesday, former team member Jacques Demers told a federal inquiry into drugs in amateur sport that he was told Kulesza and former assistant coach Raphael Zuffellato had provided “clean” urine to athletes in danger of testing positive for anabolic steroids.

“There are two sides of the story,” said Kulesza, interviewed during a break in inquiry proceedings today. “(Wednesday) was Jacques’ story. When it’s my chance, I will tell my story.”

The attempt to mask the fact that the athletes were taking steroids was unsuccessful and the four were caught. Demers’ testimony was admitted despite objections by lawyers that it was based on hearsay.

Kulesza’s lawyer, Joel Silcoff, who cross-examined Demers today, said his client will appear before the inquiry next week and will deny Demers’ charges.