Hall test positive

Swimming World and Junior Swimmer, Aug 1998

On July 1, FINA, swimming's international governing body, confirmed that America's premier sprint star, Gary Hall, Jr., 23, tested positive for marijuana in an out-of-competition drug test on May 15. Hall was provisionally suspended from competition until a hearing could be held following testing of the B sample.

The positive test threatens to end Hall's spectacular career. Since it usually takes several months for FINA to grant hearings, the announcement effectively eliminated Hall from the Goodwill Games in New York, July 28-Aug. 2, where he was expected to battle head-tohead with his Russian rival and nemesis, Alexander Popov, in the 50 and 100 meter freestyle events.

It also almost certainly takes him out of the Phillips 66 Nationals in Clovis, Calif., where national teams will be selected for the 1999 Pan Pacific Games, Pan Ams, Short Course World Championships and several other international events.

Only one other athlete has been sanctioned for marijuana since FINA officially began testing for the substance-a nonperformance-enhancing recreational drug-late in 1997. Scott Miller, a 1996 Olympic silver and bronze medalist, was given a two-month suspension in January of this year, taking him out of the World Championships in Perth.

However, Swimming World has learned that FINA intends to impose a tougher sentence on Hall-as long as two years. Cornel Marculescu, FINA's executive director, told Swimming World in an exclusive interview that FINA regards Hall's positive test as a "second offense." This is because Hall was one of three swimmers and more than a dozen American athletes who tested positive for marijuana at the Atlanta Olympics. However, at the time, marijuana was not on the IOC's list of banned substances, and no official action was taken against any of the individuals.

In a prepared statement, Hall said: "I am confident that once I am afforded the opportunity to present my position, I will be able to prove I did not violate any FINA rule, and the provisional suspension will be removed." He noted that the test was taken while he was competing in a non-FINA sanctioned event in Phoenix, May 15.

Swimming World has also learned that another world-class swimmer has tested positive for marijuana recently and that that individual's case currently is under consideration by FINA. of Fame on July 1 in Denver. Sterkel, a four-time U.S. Olympian, set eight national high school records.

Cuban Swimmers Defect. Two Cuban swimmers, Nubis Rosales and Daimara Munoz, disappeared from a training camp in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico on June 30 and apparently have defected to the U.S. The women, both past medalists at the Central American Games, were part of a team of 27 that was visiting Puerto Rico.