Sahin accepts provisional suspension from USADA; Wood to move to the No. 1 seed at the U.S. Olympic

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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
05/18/2004


USA Wrestling was notified on May 18 by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) that Greco-Roman wrestler Faruk Sahin (Fort Carson, Colo./U.S. Army) has accepted a provisional suspension for a positive drug test.    According to the USADA announcement, Sahin "tested positive at the U.S. National Championships on Apr. 10, 2004 in Las Vegas, Nev." The announcement also noted that he "tested positive for phentermine, a prohibited substance under the rules of the Fédération Internationale des Luttes Associées (FILA), which is the international federation for the sport of wrestling. "    Sahin was the champion at 66 kg/145.5 lbs in Greco-Roman at the U.S. National Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas, Nev., April 9-10.  The U.S. Nationals was a qualifying event for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Wrestling, set for Indianapolis, Ind., May 21-23.    According to the USADA announcement, "by accepting the provisional suspension, Sahin agreed not to compete in any competitions under the jurisdiction of FILA, USA Wrestling or the United States Olympic Committee, including the U.S. Olympic Trials, pending the resolution of the doping violation."    By accepting this provisional suspension, Sahin agreed not to compete at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. He will not advance to the "Final Olympic Team wrestle-off," as specified  in the Olympic Team Trials procedures.    The competition at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Wrestling  at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. in Greco-Roman wrestling will be conducted according to the  approved Olympic Team Trials procedures, which states the following:    In the "Final Olympic Trials Tournament" section:  "The top-placing athlete from the 2004 U.S. National Championships in the Olympic weights in attendance at the final Olympic Trials tournament receives a bye into the Final Olympic Team wrestle-off for Olympic team nomination. The winner in each Olympic weight class from the Final Olympic Team wrestle-off will be the USA Wrestling nominee for the Olympic Team."    In the "Final Olympic Team Wrestle-off" section:  "The winner of the Final Olympic Trials tournament shall face the highest placing contestant from the 2004 National Championships, present and competing at the weight class contested, in a best two-out-of -three format the day after the Final Olympic Trials tournament at the Final Olympic Team wrestle-off."    Based on this information,  "the top-placing athlete from the 2004 U.S. National Championships in the Olympic weights in attendance at the final Olympic Trials tournament" is Oscar Wood (Ft. Carson, Colo./U.S. Army), who placed second at the U.S. Nationals at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. on April 10.    If Wood is present and makes weight at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. on May 20, he "shall advance to the Final Olympic Team wrestle-off," as specified in the Olympic Team Trials procedures, which will take place on Sunday, May 23.