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Journalism of Courage
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This is an archive article published on August 10, 1999
Stage set for Seville row?
HAVANA, AUG 9: Two-time Cuban high jump world champion Javier Sotomayor will defend his title at this month's World Championships in Sevi...
HAVANA, AUG 9: Two-time Cuban high jump world champion Javier Sotomayor will defend his title at this month8217;s World Championships in Seville, Spain, despite testing positive for cocaine at the Pan American Games it was reported here yesterday.
The 31-year-old, who is also the world record holder with a mark of 2.45m in 1993, told Cuban newspaper Juventud Rebelde that although still suffering from a minor back injury sustained in his penultimate jump at the Games he was still training for the championships.
Sotomayor, who is also a four-time World indoor champion, can only be prevented from competing if the Cuban Athletics Federation suspend him as on Thursday World athletics8217; governing body the International Amateur Athletics Federation IAAF claimed that their hands were tied.
That seems unlikely after the Cuban Pan Am Games delegation declared on Wednesday that Sotomayor was innocent and Cuban Sports Medicine director Mario Granda said there was a manipulation in the drug testing of Sotomayor8217;s urine samples.
Sotomayor, regarded as one of athletics8217; greats, won the World title in 1993 and 1997 and took the Olympic crown in 1992, has received support from almost every quarter in Cuba and paid tribute to that while alleging that he had been victim of a plot.
Granma, Cuba8217;s official state-run newspaper, on Friday suggested that the positive drug test was part of a plot by the United States8217; Central Intelligence Agency CIA.
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