Castro called on the IOC to restore Olympic medals to four Cuban athletes accused of using drugs VIDEO CNN's Lucia Newman reports on the controversy Windows Media 28K 80K

September 7, 1999
Web posted at: 10:54 p.m. EDT (0254 GMT)

By Havana Bureau Chief Lucia Newman

HAVANA (CNN) -- In a recent impassioned appeal, President Fidel Castro called on the International Olympic Committee to restore the medals -- and the honor -- stripped from four Cuban athletes accused of using illegal drugs during the Pan American Games in Canada last month.

"Honor is worth more than life; life without honor has no meaning," Castro said.

The angry Cuban president insisted that the IOC immediately launch an investigation into the doping charges against national sports hero and world high jump champion Javier Sotomayor and three weightlifters.

Cuba sent multiple urine specimens from the weightlifters to three separate European laboratories. All of the athletes tested negative for the anabolic steroid nadrolone.

Castro said this is proof that tampering took place in Winnipeg.

CNN asked Castro if he would consider submitting Sotomayor to further testing, in order to prove his innocence. Sotomayor was accused of using cocaine.

"Let them fix the other matter first," Castro said. "Let them vindicate the three athletes who are our proof that there was a conspiracy, a plot against them."

Cuba sent urine specimens to three labs in Europe; the weightlifters reportedly tested negative for the steroid nadrolone

Then, Castro said, it's up to Sotomayor.

"Let him decide ... because I have absolute confidence in Sotomayor, and if he agrees, I would be all for it," he said.

Castro did not elaborate on who he believes engineered the alleged plot. Castro said only that it was evident that forces existed that were dedicated to blocking Cuba's participation in the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, next year.

In an obvious attack on Cuban athletes who defect to the United States, Castro called for measures to protect his tiny island nation and other countries from what he characterized as "talent plundering."

"Rigorous norms should be established to impose lifetime bans on an athlete who deserts or betrays the country that formed him as an athlete," the leader said.

Although it is not considered an Olympic event, Castro said Cuba should win a gold medal for resisting aggression.

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