Suspensions wallop skeleton team

The coach won't be reinstated and the best performer may miss Turin.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
First, a court refused to reinstate suspended U.S. skeleton coach Tim Nardiello.
Then the team's best hope for Olympic gold found himself in serious danger of missing the Turin Games over a failed drug test.
Tuesday was not a good day for the U.S. skeleton program.
Overall World Cup points leader Zach Lund will miss this weekend's World Cup race in Germany after testing positive for a drug masking agent in November at the season's first race in Calgary. The International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation has placed him on provisional suspension pending a hearing, which has not been scheduled.
Lund tested positive for the hair restoration drug Finasteride, U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation president Jim Shea Sr. told The Associated Press on Tuesday night. Lund said he's taken hair-restoration products since 1999.
"Right now they're trying to treat me as if I'm a cheater," Lund told the AP. "I'm not. I have the proof to show this is an honest mistake."
It's another serious blow to the U.S. skeleton program, which was sent reeling late last month by the suspension of coach Tim Nardiello, who was accused of sexually harassing two members of his team.
Also Tuesday, Nardiello lost a legal challenge to overturn his own suspension in time to rejoin the team in Germany in time for this weekend's World Cup. His Olympic status, like Lund's remains in jeopardy.