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Bailey fighting flu-like symptons
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Donovan Bailey, who has been slowed by injuries since winning the 100-meter dash at the 1996 Olympics, is battling flu-like symptoms as he tries to prepare for the defense of his title at the Sydney Games. Bailey got sick last weekend at the Canadian team's training center, and said Wednesday he was so weak he could barely jog without feeling exhausted. "I'm very tired. I can't go 15 or 20 meters. I've been in bed for two days," Bailey said. "Psychologically I'm very strong. But it's the physical thing I have to deal with." Agent Ray Flynn emphasized that Bailey "has not withdrawn" from the 100 and hopes to compete in the first round of the event Friday morning (Thursday night EDT). "I just spoke with Donovan a few minutes ago. He's congested, he's not feeling well," Flynn said. "He's not feeling 100 percent by any means. He's got flu-like symptoms." Bailey broke the world record by winning the 100 in 9.84 seconds at the Atlanta Games. The world record has been lowered since then, and now is held by Maurice Greene at 9.79 seconds. Bailey is attempting a sprinting comeback after rupturing his Achilles' tendon while playing basketball two years ago. He also hurt his hamstring at a meet in Stockholm this summer, and his fastest time this year is 9.98 seconds. The Toronto Star reported that Bailey warned other athletes to stay away from him at the track Wednesday "because I'm sick." "It's very bad, he's been on an IV the last 48 hours," Bailey's coach, Dan Pfaff, told the Star. "He can't stand up straight. He's been achy, sweating profusely and has the chills." Bailey said he is stymied in fighting the infection because many decongestants and other medications are classified as stimulants and are on the International Olympic Committee's banned drug list. "It's not like I can go and take flu medication and be OK," he said. "I can't do that because of testing reasons."
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