Chance for Merritt
01.02.2011 World
Reuters reports that USATF is considering a request to bend its own rules and allow disgraced Olympic and world 400 metres champion LaShawn Merritt compete in this year’s world championships.
Merritt is scheduled to complete his 21-month doping suspension on July 27, a month ahead of the world championships in Daegu, South Korea, but a month after the U.S. trials in Eugene, Oregon. As reigning world champion he has IAAF wild-card but USATF bylaws require all athletes to compete in the trials to be considered for the American team. "Our question is, do we want to set ourselves up to create a precedent by allowing him to run," USATF president Stephanie Hightower told Reuters in a telephone interview. IAAF will accept the USATF decision.
|
