NOTEBOOK

Bobsled driver Gerhard Rainer was kicked off the Austrian team after testing positive for anabolic steroids. . . . GeorgHackl of Germany, in repeating as Olympic champion, became the first to win two gold medals in luge since its permanent inclusion in the Olympics in 1964. All 75 medals awarded during that time have been won by Germans, Austrians, Italians and citizens of the former Soviet Union.

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Cammy Myler, who won the final World Cup race in late January and has been consistently among the leaders in time trials here, will begin women’s luge competition today. . . . Does U.S. Coach Wolfgang Schadler suspect that the Europeans have been holding back in practice? “No, I think everyone has been laying their cards on the table,” he said. “I think Cammy is on a real upward swing right now.” . . . Bobsled drivers Brian Shimer, Randy Will and Jim Herberich will have a two-heat race-off Wednesday to determine the two U.S. teams for the two-man competition.