SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP):
JAMAICAN SPRINTER Michael Frater was awarded the gold medal in the 100 metres yesterday after Mickey Grimes of the United States tested positive for ephedrine and was stripped of his gold medal, the Pan American Sports Organisation said.
Grimes crossed the line in 10.10 ahead of Frater, who record his personal best of 10.21 in finishing second ahead of Grimes' teammate, Marcelle Scales. Another Jamaican, Sheldon Morant, stopped the clock at 10.36 seconds on his way to picking up seventh, which will now move to sixth.
The doping test conducted in a Montreal laboratory showed Grimes had 13.7 micrograms per millilitre of ephedrine in his system. The legal limit is 10.
"I understand that athletes need to take responsibility for everything we put in our bodies," the 26-year-old Grimes said in a statement released through the US Olympic Committee.
"I made a mistake and I know that my action carries with it a penalty.
"I sincerely regret letting down the US delegation and my country, and I look forward to representing my country in the future."
An ephedrine positive test carries a maximum penalty of disqualification from the meet and a public warning. Gimena Saldana, PASO's executive secretary, said the US 4x100m relay team, on which Grimes ran the opening leg, would be stripped of its gold medal, too, because Grimes became an ineligible athlete after testing positive.
The Jamaica relay team made of Frater, 200m final fourth-place finisher Clement Campbell, 200m silver medallist Christopher Williams and 100m finalist Sheldon Morant was promoted to third in 39.08 seconds behind Brazil (38.44) and Trinidad and Tobago (38.53).
It was the second positive doping test of the Pan American Games, which began on August 1. On Sunday, Suriname 800m winner Letitia Vriesde tested positive for excessive levels of caffeine and was stripped of her gold medal.
Ephedrine, commonly found in over-the-counter dietary supplements and cold medications, is on the list of prohibited substances.
Local organisers said the positive drug tests would not cast a shadow over the events.
