Wednesday, February 27, 2002
Scott's corner determined to keep heat on IOC
By SCOTT ZERR -- Edmonton Sun
The players behind Beckie Scott's Olympic appeal are in the middle of a waiting game, and they're determined to keep the heat squarely on the International Olympic Committee.
In fact, Scott's coach, Dave Wood, has the attitude of a snarly detective searching for clues that would turn the Vermilion native's cross-country skiing bronze into gold.
The two Russian skiers who finished ahead of Scott in the women's five-kilometre pursuit, champion Olga Danilova and silver medallist Larissa Lazutina, tested positive for performance-enhancer darbepoetin on the final day of the Salt Lake Games.
"We're going to try and prove what everybody knows," said Wood yesterday from the Canadian team's training centre in Canmore.
"They've probably been on it all along, since the fall at least. How it works is you can't just take it once, you have to take it systematically.
'`You need to take it for a while to see the benefits because it takes a long time for the red blood cells to build up.''
Wood believes Cross-Country Canada and the COA shouldn't be the only ones clamouring for Scott to get the gold she deserves.
"The International Skiing Federation should pressure the IOC," Wood added.
"They have to move to make doping unattractive because then it will go away. If these people can be retroactively prosecuted then why shouldn't they be."
Scott was en route to Europe yesterday to continue her World Cup season. In the meantime, Wood and the Canadian Olympic Association intend on keeping up the pressure.
"The thing I find most disturbing is that (IOC president) Jacques Rogge is saying that (Danilova and Lazutina) are still Olympic champions," spat Wood. "We have to keep the heat on, show that there's more outrage. We're not going to take this lying down.
"I'm optimistic, I have to be. But I can tell you, if they don't (make Scott the gold medallist) nothing is going to change.''
It's expected an answer to Scott's protest will take some time.
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2002 Games Cross Country Skiing Coverage
