Ruling Puts Diane Williams’ Medal in Limbo

Whether U.S. sprinter Diane Williams will be required to forfeit the bronze medal she won in the 1983 world championships at Helsinki because of a rule adopted Tuesday by the International Amateur Athletic Federation will not be determined until later this year.

The IAAF, which governs track and field, voted to withdraw recognition of records, titles and results earned by athletes who subsequently admit use of banned substances before those performances.

But the IAAF also established a statute of limitations of six years. Williams admitted in a televised interview last February with ABC’s Donna de Varona that she used drugs while competing for the L.A. Naturite Track Club between January, 1982, and March, 1984.

Williams has repeated the confession several times, most recently in June before a Congressional panel chaired by Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-Del).

Based on her admission, the IAAF has been empowered to recall her bronze medal from Helsinki if it determines that the statute of limitations dates back six years from the day in February when she first confessed.

But IAAF Vice President Arne Ljungqvist of Sweden said that the IAAF might determine that the statute of limitations dates back six years from the day when the rule was passed.

The first interpretation would include William’s Helsinki performance because it would cover the period from February, 1983, to February, 1989. The second interpretation, however, would not affect her because it would cover the period from Sept. 5, 1983, to Sept. 5, 1989. The 1983 World Championships were held in early August.

Ljungqvist said that the IAAF executive council will issue a ruling before Jan. 1.

Williams, who was raised in Chicago, attended Michigan State. She failed a drug test after qualifying for a berth on the U.S. sprint relay team in the 1984 Olympic trials, but she was not disqualified because of an error in the testing period. She did not compete for the sprint relay team at the Summer Olympics because of a decision by the coaches.

Williams’ national championship and second-place finish in the Pan American Games in the 100 meters in 1987 will not be affected by the rule because she said that she has not used drugs since 1984.