Drechsler Will Not Defend Her Title
German long jumper Heike Drechsler said she will not compete because of a leg injury.
Drechsler, the 1992 gold medalist, announced her withdrawal at a meet in Gladbach, Germany, saying, “I’m definitely not going to Atlanta. It’s no use--it’s over.”
The 31-year-old star injured her right thigh at a meet in May.
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Italian high jumper Antonella Bevilacqua, under the threat of a doping ban, vowed to fight any effort to stop her from competing in the Olympics.
Bevilacqua, caught with the banned stimulant ephedrine in her body twice in May, plans to travel to Atlanta on Monday and take her place in the Italian team despite indications that the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) is poised to suspend her following two positive drug tests.
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