TRACK White denies taking enhancement drugs

U.S. sprinter Kelli White is being probed by track's world governing body.
SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) -- U.S. sprinter Kelli White said her positive drug test at the World Championships stemmed from prescription medicine for a sleep disorder, and the double gold medalist denied ever taking drugs to enhance her performance.
Track's world governing body is investigating a sample from White, whose gold medals in the 100 and 200 meters are in jeopardy.
She is the only American woman to win an event at these World Championships, and the only U.S. woman to win both sprints at a world meet.
"Because I know that I did nothing wrong and sought no advantage over my competitors, I am confident that things will work out in the end," said White, who withdrew from the U.S. 400-meter relay team. "The mere fact of this allegation is personally harmful and hurtful. I have never taken any substance to enhance my performance."
Without White, the heavily favored Americans lost to France in the relay final on Saturday night.
Positive test
White's positive test for the stimulant modafinil came after her win Monday in the 100. Arne Ljungqvist, vice president of the International Association of Athletics Federations and head of that organization's anti-doping commission, said White's 200 medal is in jeopardy, too.
Modafinil stimulates the central nervous system and is used to fight fatigue and sleepiness. Ljungqvist said at a news conference that the IAAF is aware of other cases in which modafinil has been used by athletes "for the purpose of performance enhancement."
White responded at her own news conference Saturday night, saying that she was prescribed modafinil for narcolepsy earlier this year, and that she and close members of her family have been diagnosed with the disorder. She said she went to her doctor after feeling tired all the time and having trouble with her memory.
White, who was somber but composed during the news conference, is confident she'll be able to keep her medals.
"Honestly, deep in my heart, I do believe so," she said. "I believe I'm innocent; I know I'm innocent. I've worked very hard for the medals I earned this week, and I'm going to work very hard to keep them."
Not first time
It's not the first time White has been involved in a disputed drug test in France.
In July 2002, after running in a meet at Saint-Denis, White's sample turned up traces of a corticoid -- an anti-inflammatory steroid. She was suspended for six months by France's anti-doping agency because she lacked a medical certificate, but the IAAF cleared her.
And it was just the latest controversy for the U.S. team at the World Championships.
The head of the World Anti-Doping Agency called for the U.S. 1,600-meter relay team from the Sydney Olympics to return its medals after a report that Jerome Young, a surprise winner here in the 400 meters, failed a drug test in 1999 but was quietly cleared by U.S. officials and allowed to run in the 2000 Games.
Also, American sprinter Jon Drummond withdrew from the meet after a tantrum in the men's 100 quarterfinals. Drummond threw a fit after being disqualified for a false start.
Ljungqvist said he did not think White's doping case would be resolved during the World Championships.
"It is very clear that it is a stimulant, but whether it is a soft stimulant or a strong stimulant is not clear," IAAF general secretary Istvan Gyulai told The Associated Press. "If it ends as a doping case -- at the moment all indications are toward that direction -- then she will be deprived of the gold medal."
Gyulai and Ljungqvist said if it is a "soft" stimulant, White would be disqualified from the 100 and stripped of her medal. If it is a stronger stimulant similar to an amphetamine, she also would face a two-year international ban.
Declaration required
Athletes are required to declare the use of any drug for medical purposes and seek an exemption for its use, but White neither declared her use of modafinil nor sought such an exemption. Since the drug is not on the IAAF's list of banned substances, White said she saw no need to make sure a declaration.
"The reason that I did not declare this on my doping control list is because I do not take it every day. It is on an as-needed basis," she said. "Because I took it so early in the day, I never thought to list it. After a competition, it's kind of hard to remember everything you take during the day."