Tags:
Journalism of Courage
ATHENS, July 31: World 100 metres champion Gwen Torrence has pulled out of the World Championships starting on Saturday without offering an explanation, a US team official said today.
Torrence, 32, was handed a wild card by the International Amateur Athletic Federation to defend the title she won two years ago in Gothenburg after knee and leg injuries kept her out of the US trials.
But Ashland Whitfield, US Track and Field8217;s national team8217;s co-ordinator, said today: 8220;I got a phone call from one of her agents last night to say that Gwen had withdrawn from the championships. She did not give a specific reason and I did not ask.8221;
Earlier this month Torrence pulled out of the Nice Grand Prix on the eve of the meeting, again without giving an explanation, and returned to the US.BAILEY FAILS TO TURN UP: Donovan Bailey, Canada8217;s 100 metres world record holder, failed to turn up at a press conference here today to cause a stir just a day before the world meet begins.
The 29-year-old Bailey, the reigning Olympic and world titleholder, informed the organisers of the press conference only minutes before it was due to start. Bailey, who usually only avoids press gatherings if the 200 metres world record holder Michael Johnson is present, said he was concentrating on his training.
