Szabo Wins, Then Runs From Boycott Question

Gabriela Szabo had a few moments to enjoy the 1,500-meter world title she won on a cool, clear evening at Commonwealth Stadium before a reporter asked if she will carry out her threat to boycott the women’s 5,000 meters Friday.

The Romanian distance runner begged off the question if she will use the World Outdoor Track and Field Championships as a stage to condemn alleged drug users such as Russia’s Olga Yegorova, who was suspended after testing positive for the banned drug EPO but was reinstated because testing procedures were mishandled.

“I want to sleep on it and make a decision [today],” Szabo said Tuesday after running a season-best 4 minutes 0.57 seconds. “I’m so happy now. I will talk with my husband and my manager, and I do a decision [today].”

Although Szabo pondered whether to take a stand that could cost her a second gold medal, two athletes were sent home Tuesday--and more might follow.

Drug tests performed in Edmonton on blood samples of seven to 10 athletes showed elevated red blood cell levels that indicate possible use of the banned hormone EPO, according to Arne Ljungqvist, a vice president of the International Assn. of Athletics Federations. Urine tests will be done to determine whether there are other causes or if the cause was EPO, which is taken to boost endurance.

Tests that resulted in the expulsion Tuesday of Canadian sprinter Verolyn Clarke--whose blood had traces of the anabolic steroid stanazolol--and Brazilian 800-meter runner Fabiane dos Santos--who had an abnormally high testosterone level--were performed before the world championships. Clarke’s test was done last week, and dos Santos’ test was taken May 6.

“It remains to be seen whether those who have shown an abnormal concentration [of red blood cells] are positive or not,” Ljungqvist said. “And you can get those abnormal parameters for other reasons.”

Yegorova tested positive for EPO last month in Paris. However, because no urine test was also done to confirm the result, per International Olympic Committee rules, the IAAF said it had to let Yegorova compete.

“She was very angry about it and disappointed,” Szabo’s manager Jos Hermens said of Szabo’s reaction to Yegorova’s reinstatement. “She also accepts the technicalities. . . . She feels very strongly about it.”

Clarke, who was eliminated in Monday’s 100 quarterfinals, tested positive during a random, out-of-competition test last week. Stanolozol is the same drug that cost Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson the Olympic 100-meter gold medal in 1988.

Clarke, 34, was timed in 11.57 seconds at the 2000 Canadian championships and 11.49 this year. She ran a personal-best 11.29 a few weeks ago. “I’m disappointed anything like this would happen,” Canadian Coach Les Gramantik said.

Tomas Dvorak of the Czech Republic won his third consecutive world decathlon title with 8,902 points, Ethiopian women swept the first three places in the 10,000, Andre Bucher of Switzerland won the men’s 800 in 1:43.70, and Amy Mbacke Thiam of Senegal won her country’s first gold medal at the world championships by winning the women’s 400 in 49.86 seconds. No Americans medaled in those events. Phil McMullen had the top U.S. showing in the decathlon, with 8,079 points, and Deena Drossin was 11th in the 10,000 with a time of 32:18.65.

Timothy Mack and Nick Hysong of the U.S. cleared 18 feet 81/4 inches to advance to the men’s pole vault final. The third U.S. entrant, Russ Buller, missed three times at that height and was eliminated.

In the men’s 200, Shawn Crawford of the U.S. was timed in a season-best 20.19 seconds to lead teammate Kevin Little (20.34 seconds) into the final. Ramon Clay (23.58 seconds) pulled up because of an injury and was eliminated. U.S. women’s long jump champion Jenny Adams fouled on her first three attempts and was eliminated early in the finals.

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A day after her loss to Ukraine’s Zhanna Pintusevich-Block in the 100 meters ended a nearly four-year winning streak, Marion Jones got a consolation prize when she was added to the pool for the 400 relay. She had been excluded because she did not attend a relay camp in Monte Carlo. Also being considered are Inger Miller, Chryste Gaines, Torri Edwards, three-time NCAA 100-meter champion Angela Williams of USC, Kelli White and Brianna Glenn.

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Today’s Events

Schedule for the sixth day of the World Track and Field Championships at Edmonton, Canada (all times Pacific):

Finals: Men’s high jump, 5:30 p.m.; women’s 400-meter hurdles, 6:45 p.m.; men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, 7 p.m.; men’s discus, 7 p.m.; men’s 10,000 meters, 8:15 p.m.

Other selected events: First and second rounds of the men’s 200 meters, 5 and 7:15 p.m., respectively; men’s 400-meter hurdles semifinals, 6:15 p.m.; men’s 110-meter hurdles semifinals, 7:45 p.m.