White back on track despite doping controversy

KELLI WHITE, accused of a doping violation after winning the 100 metres gold medal in last week’s World Championships, will return to action in tomorrow night’s Golden League meeting in Brussels.

The International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) announced her clearance after deciding the offence did not merit suspension, and her manager Robert Wagner confirmed yesterday she will compete in Belgium.

“Kelli will definitely be taking part,” Wagner said. “She knows she needs to get back into action as quickly as possible and is looking forward to her first race since this unfortunate incident.”

The urine sample of the American athlete tested positive for a related drugs substance called modafinil following her 100m victory on August 24. Later in the week, after completing the sprint double when winning the 200m, White’s test sample proved negative.

The world’s governing body made their decision after expert medical advice confirmed modafinil belonged to the minor ephedrine family of drugs. IAAF spokesman Nick Davies said: “The IAAF have obtained the necessary expert opinion on the stimulant modafinil and decided to class it in the category of weaker stimulants.

“Under IAAF rules the eventual sanction for a doping offence for this substance would be a public warning and disqualification from the competition which means White could be stripped of her two gold medals. Kelli White will now have the opportunity of a hearing in the United States before any decision can be taken as to whether a doping offence has been committed under our rules.

“It is important to state the athlete is not suspended pending her hearing and is free to compete.”

White, who claimed the substance is used under prescription by her doctor, failed to list it on her control doping form before the championships began. Wilfried Meert, promoter for the Brussels event, said: “Of course Kelli White will be welcome at our meeting. We must be seen to support our athletes. The IAAF should have kept to its own rules which clearly said the substance which White has been in trouble for is not on their banned list. They should have understood that and not be drawn into the conflict which has occurred since then.

“Saying it’s a related substance when the athlete understood it was not on the list of banned ones isn’t right.”