Both of the participants at the 76 kg gold-medal match in Sydney will not be competing in New York. Alexander Leipold of Germany, who won the initial match but had his gold medal stripped for testing positive for steroids, is serving a suspension. A recent international court order has cut his penalty to one year, which makes him ineligible for this year's World meet    Olympic champion Brandon Slay of the United States, who received his gold medal in an outstanding outdoor ceremony aired on the NBC Today Show, has not competed since that memorable night in Sydney. Slay has not completely ruled out a return to the mats in the future, but only time will tell.    Olympic silver medalist Moon Eui-Jae of Korea could be an early favorite. Moon was a 1998 World silver medalist  and has shown outstanding skills. Olympic bronze medalist Adem Bereket of Turkey, also a 1999 World bronze medalist, is not listed on the Turkish team roster.    1996 Olympic champion and three-time World Champion Bouvaisa Saitiev of Russia is always a gold-medal threat. Saitiev was defeated in an amazing overtime match in the pool competition in Sydney by Slay. He returned to claim the gold medal at the 2001 European Championships, and will be seeking to restore himself as one of the world's best wrestling champions. His flowing and creative style of wrestling is something that fans around the world enjoy.    Joe Williams of the United States, who was fourth in the 1999 World meet, is a strong title challenger. Williams has looked impressive in 2001, winning the World Cup gold medal and reminding everybody that he has the power and skill to be the world's best. He will have more international experience than in 1999, when his only losses were to Saitiev and Bereket. The U.S. has traditionally excelled at this weight class, going back to gold medalists including Stan Dziedzic, Lee Kemp, Dave Schultz, Kenny Monday and Slay. Williams looks to add his name to this gold-medal list.    Falling  just short of medals at the 2000 Olympics were Gennadiy Laliyev of Kazakhstan (4th) and Alik Muzaev of Ukraine (6th). This weight is loaded with many stars from the former Soviet Republics, all who will provide difficult tests to their opponents.  Nasir Gadzhikanov of Macedonia, a former world medalist for the Soviet Union, is moving on in years but is always tough. Elshad Allahverdiyev of Azerbaijan, who was 10th in Sydney, placed fourth at the 2001 European Championships and should be strong.    In some cases, the decision made by certain teams about who will be the final entry will have an impact on this weight class. Cuba lists both Yosmany Romero and Daniel Gonzales. Romero was 11th in Sydney and claimed the 2001 Pan American Championships title. Gonzales has shown skill in a number of events on the international circuit. Russia lists three other up-and-coming wrestlers on their roster: Chamile Aliev, Inal Dzagourov and Sazhid Sazhidov. However, everybody expects Saitiev to show up to make amends for his Olympic disappointment.     Bulgaria lists three wrestlers, Miroslav Gotchev, Ivan Todorov or Petar Kasabov, but Gotchev won the silver at the 2001 Europeans and could be the choice. Iran offers two newcomers as their entries, 2001 Asian champion M. Hajizadeh Jouibari or Hadi Habibi. Ukraine offers Muzaev or Volodimir Sirotin. Other nations with more than one possible entry are Belarus, Germany, Latvia, Nigeria and Uzbekistan.    Veteran Arpad Ritter of Hungary was third at the 2001 European Championships. Medalists at the 2001 Asian Championships included silver medalist Buvandelger Batbayar of Mongolia and bronze medalist Kunihiko Obata of Japan. Others with experience and the ability to perform include Ivan Diaconu  of Moldova, Salvatore Rinella of Italy and Radion Kertanti of Slovakia.    U.S. wrestling fans will recognize two athletes from the college ranks, Alex Alekseenko of Belarus and Nate Ackerman of Great Britain. Alekseenko wrestles for Montclair State in New Jersey, and was the opponent for Cael Sanderson when he set the consecutive college victory record at Penn State this year. Ackerman competed for Harvard, and has represented Great Britain at the Junior World Championships. This weight class should be very entertaining.     FREESTYLE 76 kg/167.5 lbs. (37 athletes as of 9/8)  Azerbaijan- Elshad Allahverdieyev  Bangladesh - Shahidul Islam  Belarus - Murad Gaidarov or Alex Alekseenko  Brazil - Victor Ribeiro  Bulgaria - Miroslav Gotchev, Ivan Todorov or Petar Kasabov  Canada - Nick Ugoalah  China - Siriguleng  Cuba - Yosmany Romero or Daniel Gonzales  Finland - Jari Olmara  Georgia - Revaz Mindoriashvili  Germany - Christian Weiss or Bulent Dagoemir  Great Britain - Nate Ackerman  Greece - Felix Polyanidis  Guinea-Bissau - Bunar Z. Costa  Hungary - Arpad Ritter  India - Sujit Mann  Iran - M. Hajizadeh Jouibari or Hadi Habibi  Ireland - Aidan Rice  Italy  - Salvatore Rinella  Japan - Kunihiko Obata  Kazakhstan- Gennadiy Laliyev  Korea - Moon Eui-Jae  Latvia- Janis Leisavnieks or Bodazeus Valerijs  Macedonia - Nasir Gadzhikanov  Moldova - Ivan Diaconu  Mongolia - Buvandelger Batbayar  Niger - Ibrahim Djmraou  Nigeria - Sunday Opiah or Boltic Sinivie  Poland - Radoslaw  Horbik  Romania - Eygen Preda  Russia - Bouvaisa Saitiev, Chamile Aliev, Inal Dzagourov, Sazhid Sazhidov  Slovakia - Radion Kertanti  Switzerland - Robert Eggertswyler  Turkey - Gokhan Yavaser or Fahrettin Ozata  Ukraine - Volodimir Sirotin or Alik Muzaev  United States - Joe Williams  Uzbekistan - M. Gadjilavov or Ruben Minosyan    Starting on September 4th, TheMat.com will publish a preview each day for an individual weight class that will be contested at the 2001 World Championships of Wrestling. All 22 weight classes that will be contested in New York City will be featured, concluding on Tuesday, September 25, the day of weigh-ins for the tournament. Visit TheMat.com daily for detailed coverage leading up to wrestling's most important event this year!!!