DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: U.S. SPRINTER MICKEY GRIMES STRIPPED OF HIS PAN AMERICAN GAMES 100 METRES GOLD MEDAL AFTER FAILING A DRUGS TEST

Record ID: 646028

  • Title: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: U.S. SPRINTER MICKEY GRIMES STRIPPED OF HIS PAN AMERICAN GAMES 100 METRES GOLD MEDAL AFTER FAILING A DRUGS TEST
  • Date: 12th August 2003
  • Summary: SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (AUGUST 12, 2003) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF U.S. OLYMPIC COMMITTEE OFFICES (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNITED STATES OLYMPIC COMMITTEE SPOKESPERSON, DARRYL SEIBEL, SAYING: "Certainly we are disappointed and we recognise that these are important matters. It's clear by the comment Mr.Grimes has issued that he is accepting responsibility. He understands that as an athlete who competes in high level international competition he is responsible for anything that is in his system and he is accepting responsibility." PAN AMERICAN ORGANISING COMMITTEE NEWS CONFERENCE MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish with English translation) PAN AMERICAN ORGANISING COMMITTEE (COPAN) MEDICAL DIRECTOR, DR. MILTON PINEDO, SAYING: "Ephedrine is a stimulant that is included among the prohibited substances of the International Olympic committee. I believe it is one of the oldest prohibited substances."
  • Embargoed: 27th August 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
  • Country: Dominican Republic
  • Topics: General,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA2KGH8IHJX1C92D87457KTGII1
  • Story Text: The United States is stripped of gold medal in the second doping case of XIV Pan American Games in Santo Domingo.
    U.S. sprinter Mickey Grimes has been stripped of his 100 metres gold medal at the Pan American Games after failing doping test, organisers said on Tuesday (August 12, 2003).
    "Certainly we are disappointed and we recognise that these are important matters. It's clear by the comment Mr.
    Grimes has issued that he is accepting responsibility. He understands that as an athlete who competes in high level international competition he is responsible for anything that is in his system and he is accepting responsibility,"
    said United States Olympic Committee spokesperson, Darryl Seibel.
    The 26-year-old tested positive for the banned substance ephedrine after Wednesday's race, the Pan American Sports Organisation (ODEPA) said in a statement.
    "Ephedrine is a stimulant that is included among the prohibited substances of the International Olympic committee. I believe it is one of the oldest prohibited substances," said Pan American Organising Committee (Copan) Medical Director, Dr. Milton Pinedo.
    Grimes, who won a gold medal at the Edmonton world championships two years ago with the 4x100 metres relay team, became the second athlete to lose a gold medal at the games after failing a doping test.
    He also ran lead in the 4x100 metres in Santo Domingo in which the United States won gold but Seibel said they were awaiting separate test results for that event.
    On Sunday (August 10, 2003), ODEPA announced that veteran Surinamese runner Letitia Vriedse, who won the women's 800 metres on Wednesday, had tested positive for caffeine.
    Jamaica's Michael Frater, who finished second behind Grimes, will now take the gold medal, ODEPA said.
    Marcelle Scales of the U.S. will take the silver and Anson Henry of Canada the bronze.
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