Gymnastics body warns US, Ukraine on doping rules

LAUSANNE, Switzerland — American gymnast Alicia Sacramone was granted special permission Friday to compete in next month's world championships after the U.S. federation was reprimanded for "negligence" in drug-testing rules. Sacramone retired after helping the U.S. win silver in the team event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but returned to competition in July. She notified the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency ahead of her return and was put back in the athlete testing pool. She's been tested twice out of competition as well as at last month's U.S. championships. But the International Gymnastics Federation said Friday that USA Gymnastics had failed to give six months notice of Sacramone's return, required by the FIG and World Anti-Doping Agency. Because the FIG did not have out-of-competition testing until 2009, putting it in full compliance with WADA rules, notifying USADA had been sufficient in the past. "Alicia did everything right, and we contacted the FIG as soon as we realized we had not reported her return to competition in accordance with the new regulations," USA Gymnastics President Steve Penny said. "We're just grateful the FIG took all the evidence we provided them showing Alicia is a clean athlete." FIG said it issued a "strong written warning" to the federation, but made an "exceptional decision" to allow Sacramone to compete in the worlds from Oct. 16-24 in Rotterdam. Sacramone has seven world championships medals, including a team gold in 2007 and gold on floor exercise in 2005. The 22-year-old won the vault title at the U.S. Championships in Hartford, Connecticut, last month. She has seven career world championships medals, including a gold in the 2007 team event and individual gold in floor exercise two years earlier. The FIG also warned the Ukraine federation for a similar lapse over the return to competition of rhythmic gymnast Natalia Godunko. She was cleared to compete at the rhythmic worlds beginning Sunday in Moscow. "This decision was taken to protect these two world class gymnasts from the negligence of their federations," the FIG said. "All member federations have been reminded of the respective rules, and informed that no more exceptions will be made, and to respect the WADA and FIG anti-doping rules." – AP