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Dope: Edwards Out of Olympics Torri Edwards is not a cheater. But she's still guilty, and she's out of the Athens Games. The U.S. sprinter, a favorite to medal in the 100 and 200, had her Olympic dreams destroyed on Tuesday when an arbitration panel upheld her two-year drug suspension, saying she should have known tablets provided by her doctor contained a banned substance. Edwards tested positive for the stimulant nikethamide at an April meet in Martinique, then blamed the result on two glucose tablets she took because she wasn't feeling well. Her team's physical therapist bought the Coramine Glucose product at a store on the Caribbean island, and Edwards said she was unaware they contained any banned substances. But an international Court of Arbitration for Sport panel said the product had a French leaflet making clear it contained nikethamide and carrying a warning to athletes that it could result in a positive doping test. ``There is an obligation and a duty for all athletes and more particularly to top-level athletes to ensure that no prohibited substance enters his/her body, tissues or fluids,'' the CAS said in its 20-page ruling. ``The panel found that Torri Edwards was negligent in failing to enquire whether the product contained a prohibited substance.'' However, the panel added, Edwards ``conducted herself with honesty, integrity and character ... she has not sought to gain any improper advantage or to 'cheat' in any way.'' The panel said a two-year ban ``may appear harsh,'' considering the same penalty applies for use of steroids and the endurance-boosting hormone EPO. But it said sports federations should be supported in their adoption this year of the first World Anti-Doping Code. If the International Association of Athletics Federations had enacted the code two months later, Edwards would have been let off with a public warning under the old rules. Who Are We ? | About THISDAYOnLine.com | THISDAY People | Contact Us © Copyright 2000 Leaders & Company Limited

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