ON THE SIDELINES : Horse Deaths Stir Olympic Concern

The third outbreak of African horse sickness in Spain in the last two years has led to concern that equestrian events may be moved from Barcelona, site of the 1992 Summer Olympics.

Agriculture Ministry official Julio Blanco confirmed today that lab tests showed the viral disease, also known as equine plague, caused the deaths July 31 of two ponies at the Sotogrande polo club in southern Cadiz province. Cadiz, on the north coast of the Mediterranean near Gibraltar, is about 700 miles from Barcelona.

Blanco said tests were under way to determine the cause of the Aug. 3 death of a third horse at the same club, although it appeared that the animal also died of equine plague. No other horses appeared to have been infected, he said.