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Notebook Anti-doping blitz is biggest since Sydney Games
BRISBANE, Australia (AP) -- More drug tests are being carried out on athletes at the Goodwill Games than at any other multi-sport event since the Sydney Olympics, event organizers said Saturday. More than 350 athletes have or will be tested for banned performance-enhancers, including steroids and masking agents. Of those, about 40 tests are for the endurance-boosting hormone. The tests, which included blood and urine samples, have been restricted to swimmers, cyclists, surf lifesavers and some athletics competitors. Australian Sports Drug Agency chief John Mendoza said it was significant that they were testing near the end of the competition season in many sports. "The wear and tear factor means in order to maintain or enhance performance, some athletes may be tempted," said Mendoza. The first results of testing are due to be produced by a Sydney laboratory on Monday.
Silent but secure"It might not be as visible as Sydney, but it's still all happening," said Games spokesman Reg Gratton.
Just the beginningWhile many of the athletes at the Goodwill Games are just finishing their seasons -- the athletics competitors and swimmers among them -- the figure skaters are just beginning a six-month training and competition grind for the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Most are trying out new programs, including the pairs duo of Anton Sikharulidze and Elena Berezhnaya, the bronze medalists from the world championships. "It doesn't really matter exactly where we place in competitions at this stage," said Sikharulidze. "We've got to skate well because it's an Olympic season." Sikharulidze has a simple formula for when skating becomes work. "When you skate well, 80 percent is pleasure,' he says, "and when you skate poorly 80 percent is work."
Not made for TVGoodwill Games chairman Wayne Goss, a former Queensland state political leader, says Brisbane has helped turn the Goodwill Games into a major spectator event, dispelling comments that the Games are packaged for television. "To see people turn up has been the ultimate vindication," said Goss, the Games organizing committee chairman. He said Games officials had a fight on their hands when initial market research showed only 10 percent of the state had heard of the Goodwill Games, and that a high number of those thought they were a veterans' competition. But Goss said more than 80 percent of tickets had been sold -- their budgeted ticket sales figure - including thousands at the popular beach volleyball, more than 8,000 on the Gold Coast for the surf lifesaving and 15,000 for the triathlon last Sunday.
They've got the moneyWith two days of competition left at the Goodwill Games, the two biggest winners thus far are two Russians -- Olimpiada Ivanova of Russia, who won $120,000 for breaking the 20-kilometer walk world record, and Evgeni Plushenko, $40,000 for taking the men's figure skating gold.
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