Athlete Decides Life Is More Important Than Sports

John Sikora’s wheelchair basketball career ended after 18 years because the medications he needs for hypertension and high blood pressure are banned by the worldwide governing body for disabled athletics.

His situation underscores the problems sports officials face when trying to police the use of performance-enhancing drugs among the disabled.

Sometimes the innocent become victims.

During a U.S. tryout in spring, Sikora, of Sarrer, Pa., was tested by team officials. He was found to be using the diuretic Lozal and beta-blocker Inderal, drugs he has taken for more than 20 years to control medical conditions.

Beta-blockers could enhance performances in shooting and archery because the drugs slow the heart rate and help steady the nervous system. A diuretic might be used in weightlifting, wrestling or other sports with weight classifications because the drugs help decrease weight quickly.

But the drugs have no benefit for wheelchair basketball players; beta-blockers would most likely hurt performance because those who take it often become sluggish.

Still, Sikora was told the drugs were on the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation’s banned substance list.

“I said, ‘You’re kidding me!’ ” Sikora recalled.

The federation started testing in 1993, in reaction to the controversy ignited by American star David Kiley’s positive drug test during the 1992 Paralympics, the quadrennial event that brings together disabled athletes from 16 sports.

Sikora, 40, did not give up his medicine when it became a banned substance. Still, he was allowed to play in a world championship qualifying tournament in Brazil last spring because medical authorities granted an exception. But he was warned not to use the drugs during further competitions.

Sikora tried alternate medications that would have enabled him to play at July’s world championships in Edmonton, Canada, but they caused an adverse reaction. Sikora returned to his regular medications and left the U.S. national program.

“I’m certainly not going to sacrifice my family and work life for a few moments of glory on a basketball court,” Sikora said.

An assistant basketball coach at a suburban Pittsburgh high school, Sikora will not try to make the ’96 U.S. Paralympic team.

“I don’t want to place my life on the line,” he said.