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CNN Live Sunday

Two Athletes Test Positive for Doping, Stripped of Gold Medals

Aired February 24, 2002 - 17:06   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: A big story just broke about 10 minutes ago. It concerns two cross-country skiers who tested positive for drugs. CNNSI's Phil Jones joins us live now with that report.

Hi there, Phil. What's the latest?

PHIL JONES, CNNSI CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka.

Yeah, I'll give you the very latest on that. Another story that just happened right here is the gold medal match in men's ice hockey. Now, the USA last lost in men's hockey on home soil in the Olympics 70 years ago defeated by Canada. History has just repeated itself, because Canada has won the gold. They beat the USA by five goals to two in that gold medal match. It's Canada's first men's hockey gold for 50 years.

The coach, Pat Quinn, in Canada you are expected to win, now they have won. Joe Sacket (ph) iced it just a few minutes ago with a fifth goal. He looked like he was going to be the MVP in that game; USA with silver.

As Fredricka mentioned, in a game that's brought lots of controversy, more scandals today, two positive dope tests. The first for German-born Spaniard Johann Muehlegg, who won three gold medals in men's cross country skiing. He tested positive for a substance related to the growth hormone EPO. He's been stripped of the 50K classical gold he won yesterday.

The test came from an out-of-competition doping test on Thursday, in between his second and third gold medals. So he has been stripped of that third gold.

Now, in women's cross country on Sunday, Russia's Larissa Lazutina crossed the line first. She took the gold there. She has been disqualified from Thursday's relay after failing a blood screening test. Follow-up results also showed a positive test. So she too has been stripped of her gold medal from today's race, and her teammate, Olga Danilova, who was eighth and also tested positive early in the week, has been thrown out of the games.

That's the story here, Fredricka. As we look forward to the closing ceremony, scandal overshadowing that somewhat today.

WHITFIELD: No kidding. What a way to end these games. All right. And closing ceremonies beginning at 8:00 Eastern time tonight.

Thanks very much, Phil.

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