LAWYERS ARGUED FOR RELEASING ATHLETE DRUG TEST RESULTS IN USOC CASE

DENVER- Lawyers for several media outlets argued in court Tuesday that
athletes' drug test results held by the U.S. Olympic Committee should be
made public because they may show many positive results were unreported.

The records were compiled by Dr. Wade Exum when he served as drug czar for
the USOC. He claims the records contain information about competitors who
tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in the Olympic trials and
went on to win medals at the Olympic Games.

Exum first revealed the existence of those documents during a news
conference in July 2000 and said they would come out in court. He did not
reveal names.

Exum is suing USOC leaders, claiming they hampered his anti-drug battle and
denied him promotions because he is black. He claims that about half the
American athletes who have tested positive for prohibited substances have
gone unpunished in the quest to win medals.

The USOC denies his claims. Exum resigned as director of the USOC's Drug
Control Administration in June 2000 after nine years.

Lawyers for the USOC filed a motion to seal the drug-test records, claiming
they would copy the files for Exum's lawyers as long as the documents
aren't released to the media.

"We have no intention of giving anything to the press," said USOC lawyer
Bill Wright.

Several media outlets, including The Associated Press and USA Today, want
the documents released.

Media lawyer Thomas B. Kelley, who represents The Associated Press, said
the embarrassment athletes may suffer if the records are released isn't
reason enough to seal the documents.

"The plaintiff claims these documents show oodles of positive test results
that were never reported," Kelly said. "We don't know if there is validity
to those claims, but we think the public interest is strong enough that we
need to find out."

He said the test results weren't considered confidential, and the athletes
knew that when they agreed to be tested. Kelly said if neither party would
discuss the records, media lawyers would seek a court order to release them.

Exum's lawyer, John Pineau, said he wasn't sure if his client would speak
to the press once he had the records.

"I'd be optimistic," he said.

Exum, who wasn't in court Tuesday, has said he filed his lawsuit because he
wants to push the organization to change.

The USOC is the sole agency that trains athletes and enters teams for the
United States in the Olympic and Pan American Games.

U.S. Magistrate Patricia Coan took the motions under advisement, and didn't
say when she would issue a ruling. Another hearing was set for June 24.