THE SIDELINES : Athlete Drug Testing Toughened

Athletes who ask to be excused from drug testing due to retirement from track and field, road running or race walking will be required to remain out of their sport for two years, The Athletics Congress announced today.

TAC, the national governing body for track and athletics based in Indianapolis, announced the new policy as part of its year-round, out-of-competition drug testing protocol.

TAC officials hope the new policy will prevent athletes from claiming retirement to avoid drug testing.

Among the athletes who are eligible for testing are the top 15 performers in each event, based on current performance lists.

TAC’s new drug testing program began Oct. 2. It calls for the random selection of 14 athletes to be tested each week. Any athlete testing positive for the first time is suspended from competition for two years.