Svenska Dagbladet, a Stockholm newspaper, reported a steady stream of e-mail messages, faxes and telephoned threats directed at reporter Janne Bengtsson. Per-Olof Olsson, Svenska Dagbladet's sports editor, told the national news agency TT that readers misunderstood the newspaper's role. I have spoken to Janne and I think he had a good reply. Leading International Olympic Committee member Kevan Gosper said he supported a proposal by medical chief Prince Alexandre de Merode to put the drugs on the IOC's list of banned substances even though they are not performance-enhancing. Some IOC officials believe the move threatens to hamper key talks this year between the IOC and sports federations about a new medical code aimed at introducing common bans for cheats.
Some international federations are against marijuana bans.
The number one goal of the new medical code should be to stop doping. We are against marijuana but it should not be on the list of prohibited substances as a doping agent. De Merode made the proposal after Canadian snowboarder Ross Rebagliati's gold medal was taken away for failing a drug test, then restored by the Court for the Arbitration of Sports. That panel ruled that because there was no agreement regarding marijuana use between the skiing federation and the IOC, the medal could not be taken away. Wild, Wild West Organizers of the 2002 Winter Games plan to use a taste of the American West to spice up at least three sports.