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By ROB GLOSTER, AP Sports Writer
SAINT-DENIS, France - 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.
"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.
White's positive drug test for the stimulant modafinil came after her win 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 the IAAF is aware of other cases is which modafinil has been used by athletes "for the purpose of performance enhancement."
White said at a news conference Saturday night that she was prescribed modafinil for narcolepsy, and that she and close members of her family have been diagnosed with the condition. White, who was somber but composed during the news conference, said she found out about the positive test by reading the French sports daily L'Equipe.
White said she 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."
Ljungqvist said he did not think the doping case involving White would be resolved during the World Championships because it still must go through a USATF hearing.
"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 "strong" stimulant similar to an amphetamine, she also would face a two-year international ban.
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.
Gyulai said modafinil is not specifically listed as a banned drug, but is "covered by a clause on related compounds."
"Of course, it is an embarrassing factor for her that she would neither declare nor get prior exemption," Ljungqvist said. "She should have done it. Even more, she should have asked for a prior exemption to use it, that is of course a problem for her when her case will later be evaluated."
White would have anchored the relay. Instead it was Torri Edwards, who got the baton with a lead but was passed in the final few meters by France's Christine Arron. As the French sprinters danced to the cheers of a joyous crowd, the dispirited Americans shook their heads.
"I felt a little bit fatigued, but I did the best I could," said Edwards, who won silver in the 100 and bronze in the 200 and now could move up to gold and silver if White is disqualified.
SAINT-DENIS, France - 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.
"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.
White's positive drug test for the stimulant modafinil came after her win 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 the IAAF is aware of other cases is which modafinil has been used by athletes "for the purpose of performance enhancement."
White said at a news conference Saturday night that she was prescribed modafinil for narcolepsy, and that she and close members of her family have been diagnosed with the condition. White, who was somber but composed during the news conference, said she found out about the positive test by reading the French sports daily L'Equipe.
White said she 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."
Ljungqvist said he did not think the doping case involving White would be resolved during the World Championships because it still must go through a USATF hearing.
"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 "strong" stimulant similar to an amphetamine, she also would face a two-year international ban.
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.
Gyulai said modafinil is not specifically listed as a banned drug, but is "covered by a clause on related compounds."
"Of course, it is an embarrassing factor for her that she would neither declare nor get prior exemption," Ljungqvist said. "She should have done it. Even more, she should have asked for a prior exemption to use it, that is of course a problem for her when her case will later be evaluated."
White would have anchored the relay. Instead it was Torri Edwards, who got the baton with a lead but was passed in the final few meters by France's Christine Arron. As the French sprinters danced to the cheers of a joyous crowd, the dispirited Americans shook their heads.
"I felt a little bit fatigued, but I did the best I could," said Edwards, who won silver in the 100 and bronze in the 200 and now could move up to gold and silver if White is disqualified.
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