SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- Surinam's only Pan American Games medalist, 800-meter champion Letitia Vriesde, was stripped of her gold medal Sunday after testing positive for excessive caffeine.
Vriesde, the defending champion who also ran at the 2000 Olympics, was her country's first Pan Ams champion when she won at Winnipeg. She also has won silver and bronze medals at the world championships.
It was the first failed doping test at the games.
Pan American Sports Organization president Mario Vasquez Rana said the amount of caffeine in Vriesde's system was equivalent to "five gallons of coffee," and that Vriesde admitted her guilt.
Adriana Munoz of Cuba will now get the gold in the 800.
http://www.fresnobee.com/sports/story/7272458p-8198457c.html
Vriesde, the defending champion who also ran at the 2000 Olympics, was her country's first Pan Ams champion when she won at Winnipeg. She also has won silver and bronze medals at the world championships.
It was the first failed doping test at the games.
Pan American Sports Organization president Mario Vasquez Rana said the amount of caffeine in Vriesde's system was equivalent to "five gallons of coffee," and that Vriesde admitted her guilt.
Adriana Munoz of Cuba will now get the gold in the 800.
http://www.fresnobee.com/sports/story/7272458p-8198457c.html