White proclaims innocence

U.S. sprinter denies taking drugs to enhance performance

SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) -- American sprinter Kelli White could be stripped of her two gold medals from the World Championships after testing positive for a stimulant, the sport's governing body said Saturday.

The IAAF said it was investigating whether White committed a doping offense and should forfeit her victories in the 100 and 200 meters. In addition, she could face a two-year suspension.

White, the first American to win both sprints at a world championship, denied using any substance to enhance her performance. She said she only took a medication for a sleep disorder.

"I know I that I did nothing wrong and sought no advantage over my competitors," White said in a statement at a news conference. "I am confident that things will work out in the end."

IAAF general secretary Istvan Gyulai said "at the moment all indications" point toward the matter being ruled as a doping case, which would result in White's disqualification from the championships.

"The mere fact of this allegation is personally harmful and hurtful," White said. "I have never taken any substance to enhance my performance."

White, appearing somber but composed at a packed news conference, was asked whether she believes she will keep her medals.

"Honestly, deep in my heart I do believe so," she said. "I believe I'm innocent, I know I'm innocent. I worked very hard for the medals I earned this week, and I'm going to work very hard to keep them."

White pulled out of the women's 400-meter relay final, saying she did not want to be a distraction to her teammates. France beat the American team for the gold.

The IAAF said White was eligible to run in the relay pending a final ruling, but warned that the United States risked being disqualified later if she was confirmed guilty of a doping violation.

With Torri Edwards running the anchor leg instead of White, Christine Arron blew past her in the final straight to give France the gold in 41.78. The U.S. team was second in 41.83.

IAAF vice president Arne Ljungqvist, the federation's anti-doping chief, said White tested positive for the stimulant modafinil after Sunday's 100-meter final. The result of her test after Thursday's 200 was not yet known, but Ljungqvist said he wouldn't be surprised if it was positive.

A single confirmed drug violation is enough to strip White of all her results, whether or not she passed a test after the 200, Ljungqvist said.

White said she took the drug Provigil, which contains modafinil, to treat narcolepsy. She said the drug was prescribed by her doctor, Brian Goldman.

"It has improved the condition in my day-to-day life and helped me function normally," White said.

White said she used the substance prior to the 100 final. She said she didn't seek a medical waiver or list the product on her doping control form because she had "no idea" it contained a banned substance.

White said she had been taking the medication at the time of competitions in the United States, London and Oslo, Norway, and passed all drug tests at the time.

"I never thought that this would be a problem now," White said.

She noted that the substance isn't specified by name on the IAAF's list of banned substances but is considered a "related substance."

"Given that it was not on the banned list, I think it is understandable why I didn't realize that I needed to declare it," White said.

"We thoroughly researched this," she added. "It wasn't on the banned list."

White said she was diagnosed with narcolepsy this year and began taking the medication a few months ago.

"I was extremely tired all the time, not sleeping well in the evening due to sleeping in the daytime," she said. "My memory isn't very good. I needed just to be right."

Pressed on why she didn't list the substance on her forms, White said, "Because it isn't a medication that I take every single day. It's on an as-needed basis, and because I took it so early in the day I never thought to list it. After a competition, it's kind of hard to remember everything you take during the day."

Ljungqvist said the IAAF told USA Track & Field to hold a hearing and take any disciplinary action, with the decision subject to final approval by the world body. Ljungqvist said he doubts the case will be resolved before the end of the championships Sunday.

"I don't think so," he said. "It is up to the United States and usually they take some time."

Asked whether there was any chance White could avoid being disqualified and lose the medals, Ljungqvist said, "It depends on the full investigation and the full report. It remains to be seen. We need to have more information."

The IAAF confirmed a report in the French sports daily L'Equipe that White's drug sample contained modafinil, described as a "psychostimulant" that stimulates the central nervous system and is often used to fight fatigue and sleepiness.

Ljungqvist said the IAAF needs to determine whether the substance falls under the category of strong stimulants, like amphetamines, or light stimulants, like ephedrine.

Under IAAF rules, the penalty for use of light stimulants is disqualification and a public warning. For harder stimulants, the sanction is disqualification and a two-year ban.

Modafinil has also been identified as a performance-enhancing drug, Ljungqvist said.

"There is an awareness that modafinil may be around as a doping substance among those who choose to take that chance," he said.

Under IAAF rules, athletes must notify the federation in advance of any products they take for medical reasons.

Of White's failure to seek clearance for the drug, Ljungqvist said, "She did declare other supplements she was taking but not this particular one. Of course it is an embarrassing factor for her that she would neither declare nor get prior exemption.

"She should have done it. Even more, she should have asked for a prior exemption to use it. That is, of course, a problem for her when her case will later be evaluated."

IAAF general counsel Brian Gay said the IAAF needs medical records proving that White was prescribed the medication by her doctor.

"We haven't yet found whether her explanation holds water," he said.

If White loses the medals, fellow American Torri Edwards would move up from silver to gold in the 100, and Russia's Anastaiya Kapachinskaya would be upgraded to gold in the 200.

In other revised results, Zhanna Block would get silver and Chandra Sturrup bronze in the 100, with silver for Edwards and bronze for France's Muriel Hurtis in the 200.

If disqualified, White would also lose US$120,000 in prize money -- US$60,000 for each gold -- and possible sponsorship bonuses.

It's not the first time that White has been involved in a disputed drug test in France.

In July 2002, after running in a meet at Saint Denis, White's sample turned up traces of a corticoid -- an anti-inflammatory steroid. She was suspended for six months by France's anti-doping agency because she lacked a medical certificate, but the IAAF cleared her of any offense.