Drug scandal reaches N.Z.

Press, 30 September 1988, Page 15

Drug scandal reaches N.Z.

PA Palmerston North The international sports drug scandal reached New Zealand this year. It has now been revealed that a Kenyan runner failed a drugs test at the world crosscountry championships in Auckland in March. Cosmas Ndeti, who finished second in the world junior men’s race at Ellerslie, was found to have traces of the drug pseudoephedrine. He is believed to be the first athlete to give a

positive drugs test in New Zealand. Ndeti was later disqualified, the third Kenyan runner promoted to second and an Ethiopian from fourth to third. The information only came to light recently when the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association received an International Amateur Athletic Federation newsletter which included a brief mention that Ndeti had been disqualified and suspended for three

months. The N.Z.A.A.A. chairman, Peter Richards, said his association had organised the championships and the drug testing only as agents for the world body and had not been separately advised of the positive drug test. Mr Richards said the first three placegetters and one other athlete selected at random were tested in each event at Ellerslie and the samples sent to an accredited laboratory at Los Angeles.

He said the taking and processing of the 15 samples cost about $3OOO, a major reason why the N.Z.A.A.A. has done little testing in New Zealand. Pseudoephedrine is commonly used to clear the nasal and bronchial passages. It comes in tablet, capsule and powder form and is present in some cough mixtures and hay fever preparations. It can be bought off pharmacy shelves throughout New Zealand without prescription.