Canadian rider Lamaze pleads cocaine case

Toronto: Canadian equestrian Eric Lamaze, cleared by an independent adjudicator after testing positive for cocaine in July, will know later on Tuesday if he can compete in the Sydney Olympics, sport officials said.

The Canadian Olympic Association's executive committee will decide after a simultaneous conference call in Canada and Sydney if Lamaze will be included in the Canadian horse riding team, spokesman Lou Ragagnim said.

Lamaze was banned from competition for life after testing positive for cocaine during a random drug test at his Toronto home on July 22.

Adjudicator Ed Ratushny, however, cleared him of the infraction on Monday on grounds of "exceptional circumstances".

Ratushny's order did not cover Lamaze's participation in the Olympics."A decision will be made on the conference call this evening," Ragagnim said.

He said Lamaze and his lawyer, Tim Danson, would be invited to make representation on the call, which began at 5 p.m. (2100 GMT).

Organizers said it was not too late for Lamaze, whose horse is already in Sydney, to compete in the Games since the equestrian competition starts next week.

A member of the Canadian Equestrian team since 1993, Lamaze tested positive for cocaine in 1996 and was suspended from competition for four years, missing the Atlanta Olympic Games.

Ratushny said evidence before him did not show that Lamaze was a drug addict or that his positive test was an attempt to cheat.



(c) Reuters Limited.