News (Media Awareness Project) - Cuba: Wire: Sotomayor Withdraws From World Championships With |
| Title: | Cuba: Wire: Sotomayor Withdraws From World Championships With |
| Published On: | 1999-08-14 |
| Source: | Associated Press |
| Fetched On: | 2008-09-05 23:41:03 |
SOTOMAYOR WITHDRAWS FROM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS WITH INJURY
HAVANA - High-jumper Javier Sotomayor, the world record-holder
and 1992 Olympic champion who tested positive for cocaine at the Pan
American Games, has withdrawn from the World Championships because of
a herniated disc.
His withdrawal means the International Amateur Athletic Federation
won't have to decide whether to suspend him from the championships at
Seville, Spain, Aug. 21-29.
IAAF spokesman Giorgio Reineri said Friday that the federation had not
yet received official notification of Sotomayor's withdrawal but would
welcome it.
"If Sotomayor doesn't compete in Seville because he's injured, many
problems are solved," he said. "The case will follow normal procedure."
Sotomayor tested positive for cocaine after winning his fourth
consecutive title at the Pan Am Games in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on July
30. He was stripped of his gold medal.
Sotomayor, 31, the two-time world outdoor champion and world indoor
and outdoor record-holder, and Cuban officials have proclaimed his
innocence and contend that his drug test was manipulated as part of a
conspiracy.
The IAAF has received a report on Sotomayor's case from the Cuban
federation, which has refused to suspend him. Reineri said the report
would be examined by the IAAF's drug commission. If the Cuban
federation doesn't suspend Sotomayor, the IAAF can.
Cuban sports officials announced Sotomayor's injury
Friday.
The Cuban Sports Institute said Sotomayor would need an operation to
repair the injured disc in his lower back. No date has been set for
surgery, the institute said.
Rodrigo Alvarez Cambra, chief doctor to the Cuban delegation at
Winnipeg, has called the injury "a grave and serious problem."
Sotomayor was seen grimacing and reaching for his lower back after one
of his jumps at the Pan Am games.
"I feel very, very bad," Sotomayor was quoted as saying. "I didn't
think the injury was that serious."
Sotomayor is the only high jumper to clear 8 feet, first accomplishing
the feat in 1989. He improved his record to 8-0 1/2 in 1993.
HAVANA - High-jumper Javier Sotomayor, the world record-holder
and 1992 Olympic champion who tested positive for cocaine at the Pan
American Games, has withdrawn from the World Championships because of
a herniated disc.
His withdrawal means the International Amateur Athletic Federation
won't have to decide whether to suspend him from the championships at
Seville, Spain, Aug. 21-29.
IAAF spokesman Giorgio Reineri said Friday that the federation had not
yet received official notification of Sotomayor's withdrawal but would
welcome it.
"If Sotomayor doesn't compete in Seville because he's injured, many
problems are solved," he said. "The case will follow normal procedure."
Sotomayor tested positive for cocaine after winning his fourth
consecutive title at the Pan Am Games in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on July
30. He was stripped of his gold medal.
Sotomayor, 31, the two-time world outdoor champion and world indoor
and outdoor record-holder, and Cuban officials have proclaimed his
innocence and contend that his drug test was manipulated as part of a
conspiracy.
The IAAF has received a report on Sotomayor's case from the Cuban
federation, which has refused to suspend him. Reineri said the report
would be examined by the IAAF's drug commission. If the Cuban
federation doesn't suspend Sotomayor, the IAAF can.
Cuban sports officials announced Sotomayor's injury
Friday.
The Cuban Sports Institute said Sotomayor would need an operation to
repair the injured disc in his lower back. No date has been set for
surgery, the institute said.
Rodrigo Alvarez Cambra, chief doctor to the Cuban delegation at
Winnipeg, has called the injury "a grave and serious problem."
Sotomayor was seen grimacing and reaching for his lower back after one
of his jumps at the Pan Am games.
"I feel very, very bad," Sotomayor was quoted as saying. "I didn't
think the injury was that serious."
Sotomayor is the only high jumper to clear 8 feet, first accomplishing
the feat in 1989. He improved his record to 8-0 1/2 in 1993.
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