US Olympic body slams door on Graham

The developments come in the aftermath of the disclosure last weekend that Gatlin, the co-owner of the world record in the 100 m dash, tested positive for testosterone in April. The United States Anti-Doping Agency USADA could offer Gatlin a chance at a reduced punishment if he cooperates with an investigation of Graham. A similar deal was offered to the sprinter Kelli White, who testified in hearings against several other athletes and Coach Remy Korchemny when she was caught in 2003.

8220;The ideal paradigm is to rid sport of the distributors and suppliers,8221; said Travis Tygart, the general counsel for the anti-doping agency. 8220;USADA certainly appreciates athletes who have the courage to admit their mistakes and cooperate to help clean up sports.8221;

But USOC leaders and the Berlin meet director were not waiting for findings to make their decisions. The USOC said it had sent Graham a letter denying him access to any of its three training centers 8211; at Colorado Springs; Chula Vista, California; and Lake Placid, NY 8211; and its 12 official training sites around the country. It called the ban permanent unless circumstances prompted a re-evaluation.

8220;Access to our facilities is a privilege extended by the good will of our board of directors,8221; said Jim Scherr, chief executive of the USOC. 8220;They can give permission to restrict that, and they have.8221;

Graham, who has disavowed knowledge of drug use by any of his athletes, did not respond to requests for comment. 8220;Mr Graham and I will be issuing a full statement over the weekend, addressing all of these issues,8221; Graham8217;s lawyer, Joseph Zeszotarski, said in an e-mail message. 8220;There is no basis for any ban of Trevor, and he will be pursuing all legal avenues available to him.8221;

USOC leaders also issued what they named a 8220;national call to action8221; on the drug issue, urging the federal government and all other sports organizations and leagues to participate in a new initiative to fight doping that would include increased research, education and enforcement.

8220;This is a national issue,8221; said Peter Ueberroth, the chairman of the USOC. 8220;Nothing less than this kind of effort will be needed. We run the risk of losing an entire generation of sports participants and sports fans.8221;

Gerhard Janetzky, the organizer of the Berlin Golden League event, said at a news conference yesterday that none of Graham8217;s athletes would be invited to his meet. Sven Arne Hansen, the president of an association of European meet directors, said in a telephone interview from Norway that he

considered it a 8220;wise move, because somebody has to start doing something.8221;

Such actions have drawn approval from Dick Pound, the chairman of the World Anti-Doping Agency. He said his agency followed a suggestion made by the International Olympic Committee8217;s athletes8217; commission that the form that athletes complete with every drug test should have a space to identify the athlete8217;s coach and doctor. They could be questioned if a sample came up positive.

8220;I8217;ve always thought that in many cases, the athletes are probably the least guilty, but it seems harder to get evidence against coaches,8221; Pound said. 8220;I think the standard of culpability and responsibility is much higher for the coach. That is an abuse of a position of trust. Coaches are supposed to develop you in all respects, not just speed.8221;

Korchemny, who pleaded guilty to charges of distributing steroids in the Balco investigation, faces up to a lifetime ban from the sport in a case being pursued by the USADA.

Gatlin could also be barred for life because this would be his second doping violation. The first, for an amphetamine he said was present in a drug he took for attention deficit disorder, came in 2001 and resulted in a one-year ban. Track8217;s international federation said it would pursue a lifetime ban if this violation were proven.

Precedent exists for reducing a penalty for cooperating with an investigation. White tested positive for the banned stimulant modafinil at the 2003 World Championships and initially denied wrongdoing. After being implicated in the Balco scandal, she admitted her drug use and testified against the fellow runners Tim Montgomery, Michelle Collins and Chryste Gaines, who received bans. White received a two-year ban but declined an opportunity to appeal for a lower sentence.

Anti-doping rules say that an athlete must provide 8220;substantial assistance8221; in discovering or establishing violations by coaches and others if they are to receive a reduction of their own punishment by up to half.

In the case of a lifetime ban, the suspension could be reduced to no less than eight years, the rules say, but there have been occasions where that rule did not apply. The Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced the tennis player Mariano Puerto8217;s suspension to two years, after finding he had no significant fault or negligence.

A reduction to a two-year ban would allow Gatlin to participate in the 2008 Olympic trials.

Need to educate all on doping ills: Rogge

8226; ATHENS: IOC president Jacques Rogge called for greater co-operation between governments and sports federations after US athletes Justin Gatlin and Floyd Landis tested positive for the male sex hormone testosterone.

8220;We must keep up the fight against doping,8221; Rogge said in a statement. 8220;Not only to test athletes but also to educate young people about the health dangers of doping and the devastating effect it can have on a person8217;s image and career.8221;

Rogge said: 8220;Events of recent days are extremely disappointing in many respects8221;. But, 8220;on a more positive note, every test that catches cheaters demonstrates that increased testing does have an impact,8221; he said.

Marketing experts have said the Landis and Gatlin cases could affect sponsorship and marketing money flowing to cycling and athletics. Reuters

Joshua Robinson contributed reporting from London for this article.8211;LYNN ZINSER and JULIET MACUR