It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. For kids eager to see snowboarders given some respect, Ross Rebagliati’s gold medal at the Nagano Games was sweet victory. But it almost didn’t last. Victory turned to bitter defeat hours later: Ross was disqualified after testing positive for marijuana.
Ross eventually got his medal back, because marijuana is not banned under International Olympic Committee rules. Still, few subjects are more sensitive these days than drug use – and nowhere more than at the Olympics. That Ross was Canadian only made things worse. It dredged up memories of another Canadian, sprinter Ben Johnson, who was stripped of the gold medal he won in the 100 meters in Seoul in ’88 for drugs. And Johnson didn’t get his back, because he tested positive for so-called performance enhancing drugs, clearly banned under Olympic rules.
Was it right that Ross got to keep his medal? Should the Olympic Committee rewrite its rules? The issue is sure to be debated before the 2000 Olympics in Australia. KidNews wanted to hear what some U.S. athletes thought. Short of flying to Nagano, there was no better place to find Olympians last month than the 91st annual Chase Millrose Games track meet in New York’s Madison Square Garden. That’s where we went, and here’s what they said.
KidNews: What did you think about Ross Rebagliati losing his medal, then getting it back?
Allen Johnson, ’96 gold medalist, 110 meter hurdles:
“I have mixed feelings. If marijuana is not a banned substance, if it’s not a performance-enhancing drug, why are they testing for it?
“At the same time, we as athletes are held to a higher standard, and (testing positive for marijuana use) sends the wrong message to kids. Like it or not, kids want to be like us, do the things we do.”
Stacy Dragila, ’96 Olympic Trials champ, women’s pole vault:
“I don’t use drugs; I don’t think anybody else should either. I don’t think it looks good. Kids may think, `Oh, we can smoke marijuana. It’s OK.’ I don’t know if they should have stripped him of his medal, it wasn’t in the rules, but drug-free is the way to go.”
Jearl Miles, ’96 gold medalist, women’s 4×400 meter relay:
“I don’t know. I just think everybody should stay away from drugs – especially kids. If grownups want to try them, they will have to live with the consequences.”
Jon Drummond, ’96 silver medalist, men’s 4×100 meter relay:
“I think the outcome was fair because it’s not a performance-enhancing drug. If it was steroids it would be different – but marijuana? Come on. I think Ross handled it very maturely. Thumbs up to him!”
Mark Crear, ’96 silver medalist, 110 meter hurdles:
“It’s a drug, you know? I don’t take it. A drug is a drug. If you have nothing to be afraid of, you don’t care what they test for. I think we should test even more and bring out the purity of sport. You can’t compete with unseen advantages. I think, if I don’t do drugs, it’s for the best. My greatest desire is to be No. 1.”
