BARCELONA ’92 OLYMPICS : Injury Might Force Everett to Withdraw : Track and field: Loss of former UCLA 400-meter runner could have effect on 1,600-relay team as well.

Danny Everett, who ran the second-fastest 400 meters in history at last month’s U.S. Olympic trials, might have to withdraw from the Summer Games.

Because an Achilles’ tendon injury has been slow in mending, the former UCLA runner said Tuesday: “I’m hoping for the best, but I’m preparing for the worst.”

Everett’s withdrawal could affect an ongoing controversy over a coaching decision to add Michael Johnson to the U.S. 1,600-meter relay team in place of Andrew Valmon, the New Yorker who placed fourth in the 400 in the trials at New Orleans.

Valmon could be chosen to replace Everett, although that decision also will be decided by the coaches.

Steve Lewis, a 1988 double Olympic gold medalist at Seoul, criticized the exclusion of Valmon, saying: “I feel the 400-meter men in the trials put a lot on the line, emotionally and physically, and that Andrew earned a place on the team. If he wants to run, he ought to run.

“If (Johnson) runs, I definitely oppose that. As far as I’m concerned, he had his chance and didn’t take it. The policy says he can run . . . but I disagree with that. Just because it’s a policy doesn’t mean it’s right.”

Johnson, ranked No. 1 in the world in the 200 and 400, was added to the team by U.S. track Coach Mel Rosen, leading to a volatile protest by other runners that Rosen later referred to as a war of egos.

In Lewis’ opinion, Rosen has been unprofessional and untruthful in dealing with Valmon.

“I don’t feel Mel should make any (relay) decisions,” Lewis said.

Informed of Lewis’ comments, Rosen said: “I don’t think it would be helpful for team morale for me to engage in a war of words because our plan is still to put our strongest (1,600) relay team on the track. They don’t have to talk to each other. They just have to pass the baton.”

Lewis and Everett were teammates at UCLA and on the 1988 gold-medal 1,600-meter relay team that tied the world record. Lewis also won the gold, Everett the bronze, in the 400 meters.

Everett said he will have to make a decision soon whether to run.

“It doesn’t really feel good, and I don’t want to go out there and not do my best,” he said.

First heats of the men’s 400 meters will be run Saturday.

Still hoping for an unlikely invitation to join the 400-meter relay team is America’s more famous Lewis, Carl, who said Tuesday: “I’m in the best shape I’ve been in all year and maybe in my life.”

Lewis, a six-time gold medalist, said the decision will be made by Rosen, adding: “I don’t want to start anything that can be misconstrued. I’ll be there for them, cheering, and if I am called, I will be ready to run.”

A sinus infection that weakened him during and after the U.S. trials no longer is a problem, Lewis said.

Neither is Ben Johnson, his beleaguered rival from Canada who is back but will not be competing against Lewis head to head.

Asked if he had anything to say to Johnson, Lewis said: “Good luck.”

Disqualified after a positive drug test and stripped of the world record in the 100 meters, Johnson is attempting a comeback.

To the question of whether Johnson is running without the aid of performance-enhancing drugs, Lewis said: “I don’t see any reason for me to believe that he’s not. It was this huge scandal for our sport, but since then it’s become something of a positive scandal. There’s more focus on drug use now. I think Ben’s life is better and the sport is better.”