Pubdate: Mon, 02 Sep 2002
Source: Chicago Sun-Times (IL)
Copyright: 2002 The Sun-Times Co.
Contact:  http://www.suntimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/81
Author: Patrick Jourdain

DRUG-TESTING SCANDAL HITS HOME FOR U.S. BRIDGE TEAM

MONTREAL--The world of bridge was in an uproar Sunday after a drug- testing 
scandal at the world open championships in Montreal.

American player Disa Eythorsdottir was stripped of her silver medal for 
refusing to take a drug test.

The World Bridge Federation was forced to hold an unprecedented emergency 
meeting to determine how to discipline her.

Random drug-testing for bridge players at world championships was 
introduced in January 2000 as part of the WBF campaign for bridge to become 
an Olympic sport.

Four U.S. team members were chosen for the tests, but Eythorsdottir, who is 
originally from Iceland, refused.

Close to tears, she said, "They have taken everything, my medal, my name.

"I am on a diet drug connected with a back condition. I asked the 
authorities whether the drug was on the banned list, and they did not know.

"The drug is on prescription, but I did not obtain a certificate to cover it."

There are no prohibited performance-enhancing drugs for bridge, so the WBF 
relies on the list of banned substances supplied by the International 
Olympic Committee.

Jose Damiani, WBF president, said: "Since we introduced random testing, two 
players have failed, but both so narrowly that we did not publish the 
names, informing only the player and their federation of the problem.

"However, she [Eythorsdottir] refused the test. She is deemed to have 
failed the test. Her medal has been removed, and her name has been referred 
to her federation."

Eythorsdottir, who is well-known in the bridge world, is from Iceland but 
married an American, Curtis Cheek, and is eligible to represent the United 
States.

She had to stand aside Saturday night as her five teammates received their 
medals at the conclusion of the two-week tournament.

The WBF suffered another blow when Damiani said the IOC program commission 
was advising against accepting bridge.

Daily Telegraph
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart