Robel saddened by suspension

Reuters

February 8, 2006

Teklemariam, due to become the first Ethiopian to compete in the Winter Olympics, learned about the decision last night after carrying his nation’s flag into the Olympic stadium in Turin for the opening ceremony.

He is suspended for five days, although as he is not due to compete until next Friday, he will not miss his race. However, he must take another test next week and, if he fails that, he faces a further suspension which would end his Olympics.

Some of the other 12 suspended athletes are worse off. They will miss the pursuit races scheduled for tomorrow.

”For me, it doesn’t affect my race so in the overall scheme of things it’s not so bad for me, except that it tarnishes my name,” Teklemariam told Reuters.

”I know in my heart that I didn’t do anything wrong. I feel really sorry for the other athletes … there are athletes out there who have been suspended from races that they’ve been training for for years. I feel sorry for them.” The 31-year-old said he had had no official confirmation of the suspension from the International Ski Federation (FIS), which said it took the decision on health grounds, not as a sanction for any wrong-doing.

”This is all new to me,” he said.

As the only Ethiopian here, he practises alone with only an MP3 player and a set of silver headphones for company.

Born in the East African country in 1974, he left with his mother at the age of nine and was brought up in New York and then in nearby Lake Placid, where he learned to ski.

He is due to compete in the men’s 15-km classical race on February 17 and is hoping to secure a berth in the men’s sprint, qualification for which starts on February 22.