Daily Updates — Live from Nagano


Gold Medalist Rebagliati
had something to smile about
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Rebagliati Stripped of Gold
Wednesday, Feb. 11, 1998
Nagano, Japan

GS Snowboarder Tests Positive for Traces of Marijuana

The first gold medal awarded to a snowboarder in the history of the Olympic Games is now shrouded in controversy.

The International Olympic Committee said today it will strip Canadian snowboarder Ross Rebagliati of his gold medal, won Sunday, due to finding traces of marijuana during routine drug testing.

The Canadian Olympic Committee said it would immediately appeal the decision.

Rebagliati said in a news conference he had worked "for 11 years to be the best snowboarder in the world. ... I've worked too hard to let this slip through my fingers."

" I've worked too hard to let this slip through my fingers...— Ross Rebagliati"
The case is now being reviewed by the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), and a decision is expected to be rendered within 24 hours, said IOC Director General Francois Carrard. Carrard told reporters at the Main Press Center that "metabolized marijuana" was detected in the first sample "A" and then the second sample, sample "B", confirmed 17.8 nanograms per milliliter of the substance.

The IOC has no minimum amount set for substance infractions, but the International Ski Federation (FIS), of which Rebagliati is a member, sets a 15 nanogram limit.

Deciding between issuing a warning or sanctions to the snowboarder, both the medical board and the IOC voted in favor of sanctions. The medical board voted 13-12 to recommend sanctioning the snowboarder to the IOC, which takes the action. The IOC executive board voted 3-2 with two abstentions on the matter, Carrard said.

Stay tuned for updates on the continuing controversy.

— Hans Prosl, Hands Across the Water for The Mountain Zone

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