White to co-operate in drugs probe

Athletics News: The athletics world was gripped by panic yesterday after disgraced American sprinter Kelli White said she would co-operate with United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in its crusade to rid the sport of drug cheats.

The news that White had received a two-year suspension and been stripped of her 100 and 200 metres World Championship gold medals after admitting using banned drugs was certain to have sent shudders through the athletics community.

The 27-year-old sprinter said, in a statement released through her attorney, she expected other athletes would be charged as a result of a sweeping investigation into the use of performance-enhancing drugs and would, "assist USADA in its efforts to clean up track and field".

"I anticipate others will be charged but I really cannot say anything more at this time," said White. "I don't want to start pointing fingers at other athletes but I do feel this is a problem in sport everywhere.

"USADA is doing a lot. In the last several months many athletes, including myself, have received penalties. No athlete should feel the pressure to cheat or use drugs to compete here or overseas."

With the Athens Olympics less than 90 days away, White's ominous warning and revelations could have a widespread effect on the summer Games.White represents a high-profile scalp for American anti-doping crusaders, underlining US determination to send a clean team to Greece.

Evidence of White's rule violations was obtained, in part, by USADA from documents turned over by the Senate Commerce Committee following an investigation by the US Justice Department into the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO), whose owner Victor Conte is indicted on charges of peddling banned steroids including tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), believed to be at the heart of the steroid scandal.

As part of the investigation, several prominent Olympians, including White, triple Olympic champion Marion Jones and her partner 100 metres world record holder Tim Montgomery, were among those to testify before a federal grand jury.

White would not say from whom or how she received the drugs but hopes to have her ban reduced in exchange for helping US Olympic authorities.

"The choice to co-operate is completely my own," said White. "I felt it was important to step up, accept responsibility and assist in cleaning up my sport. I have had a very difficult time since winning the World Championships last August. If I can make a difference in cleaning up the sport, then I will have done more for the sport than anything I could have done on the track.

"Although I am receiving a two-year suspension it could have been longer. I plan to apply for early reinstatement as provided under the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) rules."

White's lawyer, Jerrold D Colton, said in the statement: "Not only will Kelli be a witness in USADA'S proceedings as they go forward but she is also a federal witness." He added that his client could receive protection from the US Attorney if her safety is "threatened or compromised in any way".

Compatriot Torri Edwards will be the new world 100 metre champion and is now US champion in both events, while Anastasiya Kapachinskaya of Russia becomes world champion in the 200 metres.

USA Track and Field chief executive Craig Masback said: "It's tragic any time an athlete makes a choice to cheat but we're glad Kelli is taking responsibility for her actions."

White's coach, Remi Korchemny, who also coached Britain's Dwain Chambers, has been also indicted for distributing banned drugs. The Senate Committee, chaired by former US presidential candidate Senator John McCain, said this month it would hand over any incriminating findings from the BALCO inquiry to USADA.

This could mean American athletes being banned without failing a drugs test - a so-called "non-analytical positive" -- which is effectively the case with White.