Knee Injury Forces Hunter Out of Games

Eight days after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery, 1999 world men’s shot put champion C.J. Hunter today announced he was withdrawing from the Olympic Games.

Hunter suffered torn cartilage in his left knee during a weight training session in early August. He continued to train and compete until a Golden League meet is Brussels on Aug. 25, when the pain grew so severe, he had pass on his final few throws.

Surgery was performed Sept. 3, with Hunter hopeful that the knee would be ready by Sept. 22, the first day of the Olympic track and field competition.

But the knee failed to respond to Hunter’s liking, prompting his decision to pull out of the Olympics.

“I’m disappointed that the injury has forced me to withdraw from the Olympic Games,” said Hunter, who is married to sprinter Marion Jones. “Marion and I had looked forward to competing together in Sydney, but I’m a professional athlete and unfortunately injuries are part of the game.”

Hunter will be replaced on the U.S. roster by two-time world champion John Godina, who placed fourth at the U.S. trials. Godina won the silver medal at the 1996 Olympics.

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International Olympic Committee members today angrily discussed whether to sue over a document intimating that some IOC members might be susceptible to bribery.

Keba Mbaye, an IOC vice president from Senegal and former judge of the World Court in The Hague, suggested at the start of the IOC’s 111th session that the so-called Salt Lake “geld” memo might give the IOC as an entity and individual members the grounds to sue.

The cryptic memo--made public in May--lists the habits, loyalties and family needs of various IOC members. It may have served as a blueprint for Salt Lake’s winning bid, which featured more than $1 million in cash and gifts to IOC members and their relatives and sparked the worst corruption scandal in IOC history.

Mbaye said today the document “lists the names of practically all IOC members and indicates how to obtain their votes and favor.”

“We think we should put an end to such a practice. We need to condemn it and see what sort of legal procedures we could initiate.”

Who would be sued, in what court, in what country and on what precise legal grounds was not made clear. During a break in the session, other IOC members said they do not believe Mbaye or the IOC are recommending legal action.

Meantime, Mbaye said the IOC plans “in the short future” to add a measure to its charter banning betting by athletes on events at the Games.

He said the IOC is “very concerned about this betting business.” He did not provide details or explain why in particular the IOC is “very concerned” about gambling.