Pubdate: Wed, 01 Aug 2001
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2001 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: John Meyer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mccaffrey.htm (McCaffrey, Barry)

EX-DRUG CZAR TO HEAD USOC?

Wednesday, August 01, 2001 - Former White House drug czar Barry McCaffrey 
is interested in the position of chief executive officer of the U.S. 
Olympic Committee.

The position has been provisional since October, when corporate turnaround 
expert Norman Blake resigned. Scott Blackmun, previously the USOC's senior 
managing director for sports resources, has been the acting CEO since. 
Blackmun wants the job on a permanent basis.

In February the USOC executive board decided to conduct a search to fill 
the position, creating a search committee chaired by USOC member Donald 
Fehr, executive director of the Major League Baseball players union. An 
executive recruiting firm, Korn/Ferry International, has been hired to 
assist in the search.

A spokesman for McCaffrey said he had been contacted, "and he is honored to 
be considered." Neither McCaffrey nor the spokesman would comment further.

The CEO post is the USOC's top staff management position. USOC president 
Sandy Baldwin, who serves in a position akin to chairman of the board, has 
said she favors Blackmun.

Another doping sanction

Bobby Smith, a javelin thrower from Hopatcong, N.J., has been sanctioned 
for a positive test for ephedrine, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency announced 
Tuesday.

Smith gave the positive sample at the U.S. Junior National Championships 
June 17 in Richmond, Va. He received the maximum first- offense sanction 
for ephedrine - a public warning - and has been disqualified from his 
first-place finish.

Ephedrine is in a special category because it is found in many over- 
the-counter medicines and dietary supplements.

"I was unaware that the over-the-counter supplements I was taking contained 
a prohibited substance," said Smith, 19. "I made a mistake which I will 
never forget. To all young athletes: Learn from my mistake and make sure 
you know what's in your supplements."

Helping earthquake victims

The USOC and USA Cycling are providing assistance to cyclists in El 
Salvador, which was devastated by a series of earthquakes in January and 
February.

Hernando Madronero, USOC managing director of international relations, 
visited the country recently to present a check for $10,000 to the El 
Salvador Olympic Committee and to deliver seven of the approximately 100 
bicycles that are being donated by USA Cycling. The cycling national 
governing body, headquartered in Colorado Springs, also will contribute 
wheels, handlebars, forks, lubricants, coolers and water bottles to El 
Salvador's competitive cyclists.

The initial shipment of equipment was valued at nearly $5,000.
- ---
MAP posted-by: GD