News for March 17, 1997

Gary Neiwand fined after testing positive for drugs

The ACF said it had fined 30-year-old Neiwand 1,000 dollars (800 US) for testing positive to the banned stimulant pseudoephedrine.

While the three-time world champion and Olympic silver medallist will suffer no suspension because of the positive test, it is unclear whether his Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) scholarship will be affected.

After several weeks of speculation about Neiwand, ACF president Ray Godkin called a media conference on the opening day of the national track championships in Launceston, Tasmania.

Godkin confirmed that the world sprint champion Neiwand had tested positive at a track meeting in Wanganui, New Zealand, on January 25.

Neiwand had taken an over-the-counter medication, Coldrex, two days before the event because of flu symptoms and this contained the stimulant.

The New Zealand Sports Drugs Agency (NZSDA) tested Neiwand after the event and it is believed he contacted AIS officials the following day to tell them there was a potential problem.

Neiwand informed NZSDA officials before his urine test he had taken the flu medication.

Neiwand, who went to Japan on March 10 for the lucrative keirin series, was unavailable for comment Sunday.

He had a telephone hearing with the ACF's medical tribunal on March 12 and it informed the federation the following day the fine should be his penalty.

The ACF executive accepted the recommendation two days ago and Godkin contacted Neiwand Sunday to advise him of the penalty.

"He accepts it, with some regret," Godkin said. "We're of the view the penalty fits the crime.

"We're satisfied with Gary's explanation but I've told him his actions were inexcusable for a person with his experience."

Neiwand was fourth at last year's Atlanta Olympics in the sprint after silver at the 1992 Barcelona Games and bronze the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

He also has won the sprint in the last three Commonwealth Games.

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