IOC will check into Montgomery's drug confession

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Nov 24, 2008 | by Anonymous

The International Olympic Committee is ready to "take the necessary actions" after disgraced American sprinter Tim Montgomery admitted he doped before the Sydney Games, where he won a gold medal.

Montgomery said in a U.S. television interview that he took testosterone and human growth hormone before the 2000 Games and doesn't deserve his gold in the 400 relay. He ran in the preliminaries but not the final.

"The IOC will look into the matter as part of its open file on the BALCO case and take the necessary actions," IOC spokeswoman Emmanuelle Moreau said Monday.

Montgomery's admission was made during an interview scheduled to air tonight on HBO.

"I have a gold medal that I didn't get with my own ability," he said. "I apologize to the other people that were on the relay team."

Montgomery never tested positive for drugs but was banned for two years and his world record in the 100 meters was erased after he was linked to the BALCO doping investigation. He retired after the ban was imposed in 2005.

How Montgomery's admission might affect his 2000 relay teammates is uncertain. Jon Drummond, Bernard Williams, Brian Lewis, Maurice Greene and Kenneth Brokenburr were the other members of the team. Drummond, Williams, Lewis and Greene ran in the Olympic final.

Montgomery is currently in prison after being convicted of check fraud and heroin trafficking.

NHL

Teemu Selanne scored two power-play goals and Jean-Sebastien Giguere made 29 saves in Anaheim's 4-1 win over visiting Colorado. Ian Laperriere ended Giguere's bid for a shutout 2:13 into the third period.

-- Sami Salo scored a power-play goal 2:33 into overtime and Curtis Sanford made 32 saves in his first start since goalie Roberto Luongo was injured, lifting host Vancouver to a 3-2 victory over Detroit. Luongo has a strained groin muscle and is expected to be sidelined at least a week -- maybe longer.

-- Mike Knuble scored two goals, including the tiebreaker at 14:52 of the third period, and host Philadelphia beat Dallas 4-3.

-- Nikolai Zherdev had three assists as the New York Rangers stretched visiting Phoenix's losing streak to six games with a 4-1 victory.

-- Ville Peltonen's second goal of the game snapped a tie late in the second period and sent host Florida to a 3-2 victory over Carolina.

-- Ryan O'Byrne put the puck in his own net on a delayed penalty to send the game into overtime, and Bill Guerin scored the shootout clincher for the visiting New York Islanders in a 4-3 win over Montreal. Guerin was credited with the tying goal on O'Byrne's gaffe.

-- Cal Clutterbuck's first two NHL goals sparked host Minnesota to a 4-3 win over travel-weary Washington.

-- Los Angeles forward John Zeiler was suspended three games without pay by the NHL for ramming Colorado defenseman Adam Foote during a loss Saturday. Zeiler was assessed a major penalty for boarding and a game misconduct. He will lose $8,770.17.

-- St. Louis traded forward Lee Stempniak to Toronto for center Alexander Steen and defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo.

-- Patrick Roy's son Frederick was suspended 15 games by the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for high-sticking during a game Friday.

MLS

Los Angeles acquired forward Jovan Kirovski from the Earthquakes for a conditional pick in the 2010 MLS supplemental draft. Kirovski previously played for the Galaxy and split this season between the Earthquakes and Colorado.

Winter sports

Cut from the Pittsburgh Steelers this summer as a receiver/kick returner, two-time Olympian Jeremy Bloom, 26, announced plans to start working out with the U.S. ski team, the first step toward possibly reviving his freestyle skiing career in time for the 2012 Vancouver Games.

Cycling

Austrian Bernhard Kohl was banned for two years by the national anti-doping agency for using the blood booster CERA while finishing third at this year's Tour de France.