New medication gives Richards new hope for Olympics

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

EUGENE, Oregon (AFP) — American 400-meter star Sanya Richards begins her bid to reach the Beijing Olympics here Sunday with confidence she will bounce back from an illness-related setback a year ago.

The 23-year-old Jamaican-born sprinter missed the 2007 world championships at Osaka in her specialty after a fourth-place finish in the US finals, one spot shy of a berth despite what was a world-best effort in the semi-finals.

Richards, who reached Osaka at 200m and helped the US 4x400 relay win gold, was slowed by Behcet's syndrome, an immune system disease that hurt her stamina. But since starting a new medication this year she has been fine.

"It's completely under control," Richards said. "The medication I've been taking has worked great. It has really made...