Wednesday, June 4, 2008

64

Days until Opening Ceremonies

Chicago is expected to advance to the next round of bidding today as the International Olympic Committee Executive Board announces a narrowed field of candidate cities for the 2016 Summer Games. Prague; Tokyo; Rio de Janeiro; Baku, Azerbaijan; Doha, Qatar; and Madrid have also submitted applications for the bid, which won't be decided until Oct. 2, 2009, in Copenhagen. The cities that advance will receive a visit from the IOC Evaluation Commission in the coming months.

Antonio Pettigrew agreed yesterday to return the Olympic relay gold medal he won in 2000 after admitting to doping during the Sydney Games.

During last month's trial involving former track coach Trevor Graham, Pettigrew came clean about using EPO and human growth hormone from 1997 to 2003. Graham was found guilty of lying to federal investigators about his relationship to a steroids dealer.

Pettigrew's decision to give up the gold for the 4x400-meter relay was expected, considering his testimony in the Graham trial.

After brief negotiations with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, the agreement was made public.

Pettigrew's decision came a day after one of his relay teammates at the Sydney Olympics, Michael Johnson, said he would voluntarily give his medal back in the wake of Pettigrew's testimony.

Date	Event (Site)
Tomorrow- Sunday	Swimming -- Mutual of Omaha Swimvitational, Omaha
Tomorrow- Sunday	Swimming -- Charlotte Ultraswim, Charlotte
Sunday	Track and Field -- Prefontaine Classic, Eugene, Ore.
Friday- Sunday	Canoe/Kayak -- World Cup I (sprint), Szeged, Hungary
Saturday- Sunday	Judo -- World Cups, Bucharest and Madrid

-- Amy Shipley