USOC CEO Norm Blake on Thursday "rejected claims
positive drug tests have been covered up, claiming American
athletes were being subjected to a 'witchhunt,'" according
to Robinson & Magnay of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. But
Blake "admitted that there needed to be greater independent
security of US drug testing procedures and the handling of
cases to restore public confidence." Blake plans to
announce shortly who "will conduct a full review into the
drug program." Blake: "The USOC and the US Olympic movement
has to regain this trust of the public at large" (SYDNEY
MORNING HERALD, 9/28). Blake, on a new independent watchdog
group to review drug testing: "We need to create a vehicle
in which the public at large will have faith in this third
party." In N.Y., Richard Wilner writes the move to create
the group comes as the U.S. "took heat from many corners of
the Olympic movement" over perceived cover-up of drug tests
(N.Y. POST, 9/28). Blake said that after meeting with USATF
CEO Craig Masback, "he is convinced there was no cover-up,
only shared concerns over confidentiality" (N.Y. POST,
9/28). Meanwhile, in a letter to White House Drug Policy Dir
Barry McCaffrey, Masback "has confirmed that there indeed
are 'unresolved matters' concerning drug tests [involving]
American athletes" (NEWSDAY, 9/28). A SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
editorial runs with the headline, "American Cover Up," and
states, "The decade-long cover-up by the [USATF] ... is a
disgrace to the Olympic movement. The cover-up reflects a
shameful hypocrisy about the use of illegal drugs by US
athletes" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 9/28). Front page
headline in Thursday's SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: "Drugs:
America Under Pressure" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 9/28).
SPONSORS WATCH: USA TODAY's Bruce Horovitz reports that
Olympic marketers are "wondering" if drug use, "and not the
bribery scandal involving potential host cities - is now the
critical hurdle facing the Olympic image." Kodak's Dir of
Corporate Partnerships Manny Rivera: "Drug use will become
an increasingly important issue that the IOC will have to
address." But Horovitz writes, "No Olympic sponsors have
defected yet. None are even rattling sabers. And no
marketer has dropped Olympic athletes" (USA TODAY, 9/28).
LETTERMAN GIVES THE JUICE ON TOP TEN: On the "Late
Show," CBS' David Letterman offered the "Top Ten Signs An
Olympic Athlete Is Using Steroids." Highlights: No. 9)
During anger-fueled 'roid rage, Al Trautwig knocked cold
with pommel horse. No. 8) After losing 100-meter dash,
turns green, bursts out of clothing and screams, "Hulk mad."
No. 7) At press conference, tearfully thanks mom, dad, wife
and dealer. No. 5) Last discus throw broke a window on the
Mir Space Station. No. 4) Left bicep is being considered as
site of the 2008 Olympics. No. 3) Future plans - run for
governor of Minnesota. No. 2) "Personal trainer": Robert
Downey, Jr. No. 1) He begins triple jump in Sydney and
lands in Perth ("Late Show," CBS, 9/27).
