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28 March '04

Conrad Stoltz and Megal Halls Win Olympic Spots.
The best-ever African Regional Triathlon Championships were held this past weekend and for the first time www.triathlon.org provided live coverage of the important Olympic Qualifying event for Africa.

In the men's event, Conrad Stoltz of South Africa retaine his African crown by defeating defeating team-mates Kent Horner and Lieuwe Boonstra. With the victory Stoltz earned himself a startling spot in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games Triathlon. Everyone remembers the excitement that went through the crowd when Stoltz led a breakaway at the Sydney Olympic Games, and we can expect the same thing on the challenging Vouliagmeni course. Megan Halls, also of South Africa won her title by over 5 minutes.

Brian Mahoney, ITU Media and the LOC provided great coverage from the event. Everyone now expects the door to open wide for more events on the African continent. Congratulations to the LOC, the host NF and the African Triathlon Union for the success of the event. Click here for complete results and photos.

Virgina Berasategui and Javier Rosas Win in Valle de Bravo
The ITU International Triathlon at Valle de Bravo is a familiar stop on the annual ITU calendar, with one of the most challenging bike courses around. However, it was just what Virginia Bersategui of Spain needed to make up a 1:30 deficit after the swim leg. And make-up she did by powering her way over the hilly 40km course 5 minutes faster than anyone else. She then ran a 33:09 to win by over 2 minutes. With the win, Berasategui also moved up in the rankings from 159 to 136, and within reach of that 125 rank to be eligible for selection for the Olympic Games. Julie Swail of the USA was 2nd and Erika Molnar of Hungary was 3rd.

In the men's event, Javier Rosas of Mexico continued his strong start to the season by completing the event with consistently good performances in all three segments. He delighted his home-country fans by posting the win with a 1:13 lead on team-mate Arturo Garza. ITU's mathematics professor, Gilberto Gonzalez of Venezuela, was 3rd.

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Asian Regional Championships
More Olympic spots will be up for grabs next weekend with the ASTC Championships in Subic Bay, Philippines. Tom Carrasco, ITU Regional Representative of Asia and President of the host NF writes that the start list for the event is one of the largest ever. Brian Mahoney, ITU Media will shortly be leaving African enroute to Subic Bay to provide live coverage from the event next weekend. Click here for complete startlists and details of this weekend's event.

World Rankings and Olympic Simulation:
Enrique Quesada, ITU Rankings Manager has posted updated World Rankings after the African Regional Triathlon Championships and the Valle de Bravo ITU International Triathlon. He has also updated the Olympic Simulations which provide you with a snapshot of how the Olympic Qualification Criteria will look like when applied on 9 may 2004. Click here for the latest World Rankings and Olympic Simulation.


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WADA MODIFIES LIST OF PROHIBITED METHODS AND SUBSTANCES
David Howman, Director General of WADA writes: Following a recommendation from the Chair of the WADA Health, Medical and Research Committee, and after approval by the WADA Executive Committee, WADA is issuing a modified version of the 2004 List of prohibited methods and substances. The changes, which do not affect the substances currently on the List aim at preventing any legal loophole in case of the discovery of a new “designer steroid”. The discovery of the “designer steroid” Tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), has made clear that the definition of “analogue” as defined under sections S4 and S5 of the former List is inappropriately restrictive. In fact, in its former version, the List required an analogue to have both a similar chemical structure and similar pharmacological effects. However, contrary to good medical and pharmaceutical practice, these “designer steroids” are administered to athletes despite the lack of any studies on their pharmacological effects. Therefore, in order to be able to cover new “designer steroids” in the future and to prosecute such cases quickly, it is important that substances that have a similar chemical structure or similar pharmacological effects be prohibited.In consequence, the references to “analogues” and “mimetics” in sections S4 and S5 have been deleted and replaced by the same wording that is used in sections S1 and S8 namely: “… and other substances with similar chemical structure or similar pharmacological effect(s)”. The “pharmacological effect(s)” can be interpreted both in plural and singular.In addition, the FIFA Doping Sub-Committee has informed WADA, by letter dated March 8, 2004, that FIFA does not wish to prohibit alcohol or beta-blockers in football. Therefore, in accordance with provision 4.2 of the Code, WADA has removed references to FIFA under Section P1 and P2.Given that this is an urgent matter as new “designer steroids” are potentially on the market, it is necessary to have this new List in force immediately as authorized by Article 4.1 of the Code.


New on www.triathlon.org

  •   ITU World Rankings: 28 March 2004
  •   Olympic Simulation: 28 March 2004
  •   Results, photos: African Triathlon Regional Championships
  •   Resutls, photos: Valle de Bravo ITU International Event in Mexico
  •   Start List: Asian Regional Triathlon Championship

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