U.S. sprinter will appeal suspension

Thursday, Aug. 12, 2004 | 9:11 a.m.

SUN WIRE REPORTS

ATHENS, Greece -- Torri Edwards, the sprinter who had made the U.S. track and field team in the 100 meters and 200 meters, was suspended for two years by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency on Wednesday, after the American Arbitration Association panel approved the decision by the world's governing body of track and field last week to suspend her.

Edwards, 27, intends to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which has an ad-hoc division already established in Athens.

The first potential controversy of the meet is the choice of who swims in the men's 400 freestyle relay on Sunday. Michael Phelps expects to be placed on the team -- although he did not swim the 100 freestyle at the U.S. trials -- because his best time at that distance would make him the second-fastest American.

But the top four swimmers in the 100 in the trials have made it clear that they would be unhappy being replaced by Phelps.

The opening will "set the stage for an historic celebration" by honoring the "ancient values and culture that gave them birth," said the games' chief organizer, Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki.

For the parade of nations, the people holding the placards with the names of the countries will be dressed as ancient vases. Performers dressed as athletes will be lifted into the air holding lanterns that look like rays of light, while a large metal ring floats above a tree.

Hamm, 32, playing her final tournament before retiring, completed the scoring in Crete after goals by Shannon Boxx and Abby Wambach.

"We were a little bit nervous to start with, but we concentrated and got the result we were aiming for," Hamm said. "We have to remain calm and not start to celebrate."