4 Olympians Suspended for S. Africa Tour

Discus thrower John Powell, a two-time Olympic bronze medal winner, was suspended for six years today by The Athletics Congress for participation in a tour of South Africa, and three other Olympians were suspended for four years each.

In a hearing before TAC’s National Board of Athletics Review in the office of Peter Alkalay, corporate counsel for track and field’s national governing body, the four were barred from national and international competition. All had previously received indefinite suspensions from the board.

The others suspended were: Carol Cady, American record-holder in the women’s discus and a 1988 Olympian; Ruth Wysocki, a 1984 Olympian in the women’s 1,500 meters and 3,000 meters; and James Robinson, a 1976 Olympian in the men’s 800 meters.

Powell, an assistant track coach at Stanford, won his Olympic medals at the 1976 and 1984 Games.

The three-man review board said it will hear the case of coach Skip Robinson on March 30 in Los Angeles. Robinson was asked to attend today’s meeting but did not.

Previously a total of 12 other athletes and coaches had been suspended for their participation in three meets last October in South Africa, which is barred by the International Amateur Athletic Federation, the world governing body of the sport. South Africa is banned by the IAAF for its policy of racial separation.

Those penalized earlier were coaches Ted Banks and Dick Tomlinson, each suspended for 12 years; javelin thrower Tom Petranoff, six years; pole-vaulter Tom Hintnaus, long-jumper Tyrus Jefferson, shot-putter Dave Laut, hurdler Milan Stewart and middle-distance runner Ray Wicksell, four years each; and sprinters Cedric Gilder and James Andrews, long-jumper Kevin Atkins and 800-meter runner Kevin Thibodeaux, two years apiece.