IAAF Council to set up inquiry into nandrolone cases Competition awards for teams at Cross and Race Walk events

MONTE-CARLO - Monaco - The IAAF Council, on the last day of its Extraordinary Meeting in Monte-Carlo, welcomed the initiative of UK Athletics and has decided to conduct an international study on the possible effect of food supplements on athletes who have tested positive for Nandrolone. The study will be conducted with the co-operation of athletes and Member Federations. However, during this inquiry, the IAAF's disciplinary procedures will continue to apply to all athletes suspected of doping offences. Athletes will continue to be reminded of the possible hazards of taking food supplements. In a continuing effort to promote athletics, the Council studied proposals for an Overall World Ranking System for athletics. In this system, which will be tested during the 2000 outdoor season (Northern Hemisphere), athletes from all disciplines will be ranked on one list, as well as by individual event. Following other recommendations from the Competition Commission, Council agreed that IAAF Competition Awards be extended to the team events at the World Cross Country Championships and the World Race Walking Cup starting from the next editions. It was also agreed that the IAAF World Cross Challenge would be discontinued after the current season. Council also discussed proposals to make field event competitions shorter and more exciting for spectators. For example, in the pole vault and high jump, athletes may have a fixed number of attempts, while in the horizontal field events a maximum of four attempts may be allowed. During the 2000 outdoor season some one-day meetings will be used to test the new proposals. For more information, contact: Giorgio Reineri, IAAF Press Officer, at giorgio@iaaf.org International Amateur Athletics Federation