TAC Will Support Butch Reynolds in Appeal of His Suspension

The executive committee of The Athletic Congress, the governing body for track and field in the United States, said it will support Butch Reynolds in the appeal of his two-year suspension for steroid use.

Reynolds, the 400-meter world record-holder, has denied using steroids.

The ban, imposed by the International Amateur Athletic Federation in August of 1990, would keep Reynolds from competing in the 1992 Olympic Games at Barcelona, Spain.

Twice Reynolds has been unsuccessful in trying to restore his eligibility. He appealed to TAC, and an investigative panel recommended his reinstatement.

It could not be proven that the urine sample had been kept safe from tampering and laboratory procedures, and data analysis was open to question, the panel reported.

In other developments, hurdler LaVonna Martin and race walker Dan Pierce won reinstatement after being suspended for two years for violations of TAC’s drug policies.