IAAF Expected to Lift Hurdler Harris’ Ban

Danny Harris, whose promising career as an intermediate hurdler was interrupted first by dependency on cocaine and then by track and field’s bureaucratic red tape, seems virtually certain to have his suspension by the International Amateur Athletic Federation lifted, enabling him to return to competition next year.

Harris has gained a necessary ally in Primo Nebiolo, president of the international governing body for track and field, who said Thursday that he will support Harris’ appeal in November before the IAAF Council.

“Like all families of the world, we do not want drugs in our family,” Nebiolo said.

“But when a young man makes a mistake and then makes all the efforts to end his nightmare, it is not helping him to continue the punishment.”

Harris, of Perris, Calif., the silver medalist in the 1987 World Championships and the fourth-fastest American in the history of the 400-meter intermediate hurdles, tested positive in 1992 for cocaine and was suspended for four years.

But after entering a drug and alcohol treatment center in Orange County and spending 104 days in the Castle East program in Los Angeles, Harris, calling himself a recovering addict, applied for reinstatement to the sport’s national governing body, USA Track & Field, in June of 1993.

The USATF ruled four months later that Harris would regain his eligibility on March 1 and, according to USATF executive director Ollan Cassell, notified the IAAF. But after Harris’ fifth meet of this outdoor season on July 12, IAAF officials banned him from competing, arguing that only their 25-member council could revoke the suspension.

Harris was not available for comment, but his coach, Bob Kersee, said that he is optimistic that Harris will compete in 1995.