Gold Medal Winner Flunks Drug Test

Ross Rabagliati of Canada, the first Olympic snowboard gold medalist, tested positive for marijuana after his winning run, it was reported.

Canadian Press quoted Dick Pound, an IOC vice president from Canada, as saying Rabagliati had flunked a drug test at the Winter Games in Nagano.

The Canadian Olympic Association said it would appeal to an independent court of arbitration. That body would have to make a ruling within 24 hours of the appeal.

A positive drug test, if it stands, would result in the Canadian being stripped of the gold medal.

The International Olympic Committee called a news conference in Nagano for Wednesday (Tuesday night EST). The subject was not announced but it was expected to involve drug cases from the opening days of the games.

Snowboarding was added to the Olympics this year, in part to attract a younger audience. Rabagliati said at his post-victory news conference Monday that he realized his sport was really part of the games when drug testers started showing up at meets.

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