|
|
|
Doping, smoking and muscle-stoking
The biggest story of the year had a dark side: Mark McGwire was scrutinized for using androstenedione, a legal body-building supplement banned by the NFL and NCAA but not by baseball. The widespread use by athletes of muscle-building creatine, and abuse of Sudafed by hockey players in search of an edge, also came to light. Across the pond, the Tour de France erupted in a blood-doping scandal; one stage was cancelled and seven teams either dropped out or were expelled from the race. Irish swimmer Michelle Smith, winner of three gold medals at the 1996 Summer Olympics, was banned from competition for four years for tampering with her urine sample. Another 1996 gold medalist, U.S. swimmer Gary Hall was suspended three-months for testing positive for marijuana, which also figured in Canadian snowboarder Ross Rebagliati's fiasco in Nagano.
Photos by Laurent Rebours/AP, Burk Uzzle, James A. Finley/AP
|
|
|
Copyright © 1999 CNN/SI. A Time Warner Company.
All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.
|
|
