Does IAAF Really Have Track Record?

Toronto Sun columnist Jim O’Leary recently questioned the International Amateur Athletic Federation’s commitment to policing drug use among athletes, citing the governing body’s reluctance before suspending 400-meter world record-holder Butch Reynolds and shotput world record-holder Randy Barnes for steroid use.

O’Leary wrote: “The IAAF, a cynical body, dispensed its kangaroo-court justice only after news of the positive tests was leaked to the media. Otherwise, there is no reason to suspect Reynolds and Barnes would have got anything but off scot-free. . . .

“For three months, the American cheaters were shielded beneath the protective blanket of the IAAF. In the end, as it was with (Ben) Johnson, their punishment resulted not from a positive test, but from the public learning about their cheating.”

Add steroids: O’Leary wrote: “Alone, the humbling of two world record-holders isn’t complete vindication for (Charlie) Francis (Johnson’s coach at Seoul, who testified during the Dubin Commission inquiry in 1989 that virtually all world record-holders used drugs). The apparent cover-up, though, lends credibility to Francis’ allegations. If the IAAF would hush up the positive tests of Reynolds and Barnes, why not others?”

Last add steroids: Francis told O’Leary: “I get a chuckle out of what the States has done. They announced a grand arrangement where the U.S., East Germany and the Soviet Union can test each other’s athletes. What a joke! That’s the equivalent of the five Mafia families of New York agreeing to police each other to wipe out crime in the city.”

Trivia time: Which Pacific 10 football rivalry began the earliest?

Just be quiet, baby: It’s true that four former Raiders--tight end Dave Casper, tackle Art Shell, guard Gene Upshaw and punter Ray Guy--lead their position groups in the Super Bowl Silver Anniversary team balloting.

It’s also true that three former Raiders--coach Tom Flores, quarterback Jim Plunkett and center Dave Dalby--are last in their groups.

Key to the mint: Walt Zable, president of Cubic Corp., a San Diego electronics firm, recently donated $10 million to his alma mater, College of William and Mary.

Zable, an honorable mention All-American end for the Indians during the 1930s, specified that half the money was to be spent on academic programs, the other half on athletic scholarships. The school responded by announcing that its 15,000-seat stadium would be renamed in his honor.

Said Zable: “I have to thank sports immensely for my success. Without sports, I would not have an education, and without an education, God knows what would have happened to my career.”

Poll axing: From Washington Post columnist Tony Kornheiser:

“College football polls are, by and large, idiotic. How are you supposed to know what to make of the fact that Tennessee beat Florida, Florida beat Alabama, Alabama beat Tennessee? Even if you gained a perspective on that, what would it mean relative to Washington and Illinois?”

Add Kornheiser: He had a riddle:

“How many polls does it take to screw up a ranking?

“Five. AP, UPI, USA Today/CNN, The National and the New York Times.

“That’s a pollish joke.”

Trivia answer: California vs. Stanford, 1892.

Quotebook: New York Giant Coach Bill Parcells, whose team plays the Detroit Lions Sunday, when asked about the game between the undefeated Giants and the undefeated San Francisco 49ers Dec. 3 at Candlestick Park: “We’re not on a collision course with the 49ers. We’re on a collision course with Detroit.”