Statement By Brandon Slay

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Brandon Slay (USA Wrestler)
10/16/2000


Statement from Olympic Wrestler Brandon Slay, 1:00pm Central Time, Monday, October 16, 2000, regarding the possibility of being awarded the Olympic Freestyle Wrestling 76 kg. Gold Medal following the reported positive test for the steroid nandrolone by Alexander Leipold of Germany:    "I have always dreamed of and worked towards the goal of winning an Olympic Gold Medal.  But this certainly wasn't the way I dreamed of doing it. I was very pleased with my performance in Sydney, beating the clear favorite and defending 1996 Olympic Gold Medallist Bouvaisa Saitiev from Russia, along with three others, to make the finals. I am proud to have represented the United States in freestyle wrestling, and to have won a medal for our country.  If silver turns to gold this way, I don't know how to feel.  My dream was to win gold on the mat. I've learned many lessons by winning the Silver Medal, and my hope is to carry these lessons with me whether or not the Gold Medal comes my way.    I would like to reserve any further comment until a final decision is made by the I.O.C."