GREENSBORO, N.C.-- The board of
directors of USA Track & Field (USATF) voted unanimously on
Wednesday to ban for life American athletes who test positive
for steroids, even on their first offense.
The lifetime ban, which drew support from athletes, coaches
and officials, is part of a new "Zero Tolerance" program by the
USATF, which has been sharply criticized internationally for its
handling of anti-doping cases.
But the proposed ban must be approved by the U.S. governing
body's legal committee and general session, which will vote on
the issue on Sunday.
The lifetime ban, which would affect both athletes and
coaches involved, is far more severe than the existing
International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF)
two-year suspension for a first doping offence.