Drug Board Upheaval Within TAC

Four members of The Athletics Congress’ drug-testing custodial board, which monitors track and field’s extensive domestic drug-testing program, have resigned, apparently in protest.

The four--Edwin Moses, Harvey Glance, Linda Sheskey and Doriane Lambelet--sent their resignations to TAC offices in Indianapolis via fax machines late Wednesday. On Thursday, a TAC spokesman confirmed the action but said the organization would have no comment.

Glance, a two-time Olympic sprinter, also resigned his position as a TAC vice president. However, he remained as president of the group’s Athletes Advisory Committee.

Moses and Glance did not return phone calls, and Lambelet could not be reached for comment.

Sheskey, reached Thursday at her home in Woodstock, Ga., had little comment other than to say the group would issue a statement soon.

She said her resignation consisted of a two-sentence letter stating that she would no longer participate on the board, and that her reasons would be forthcoming.

Asked the nature of the dispute with TAC, Sheskey would only say: “It’s been building for a while.”

Although the board members, all athletes or former athletes, appeared reluctant to make a public statement, one source close to the board said, “These guys caught (TAC) in one too many lies.”

The body has been under fire recently for its handling of various sensitive issues. Four elite athletes have tested positive for banned drugs within a month of each other, and another, steeplechase runner Henry Marsh, was given a two-year suspension after he failed to appear for a random drug test last month.

Long jumper Larry Myricks, hurdlers Greg Foster and Antonio McKay and UCLA triple jumper McArthur Anderson all have tested positive for banned drugs found in cold medicines. The athletes were each suspended for three months.

Several months ago, Moses and Glance called for an independent investigation of drug use among American athletes, saying TAC had lost its credibility because of its handling of the Chuck DeBus case.

DeBus, a former women’s track coach at UCLA and Cal State Northridge, has been accused of providing banned drugs to athletes. TAC was found to have offered DeBus a deal in which he would receive a reduced suspension in return for naming athletes who he claimed had taken drugs. Although DeBus provided a list of names, the deal fell through. The decision in the DeBus case is expected next week.