IAAF Council Wrap Up -- U.S. Could Lose Gold; England, China, Poland Make World Champ Bids

The IAAF says the U.S. should lose the gold medal it won in the women's 4x400m relay in Athens.

Meeting in Doha Monday, the IAAF Council said the admission of doping by Crystal Cox violated rules that were in place during the 2004 Games.

Cox, who ran in the qualifying heats for the U.S. team, admitted to doping earlier this year. She has already accepted a four-year suspension and disqualification for all her results from 2001 to 2004. Under IAAF rules, "the US Relay team results will be disqualified accordingly".

An IOC disciplinary commission is investigating Cox's case. The IAAF is responsible for record keeping at all athletics events, but the IOC must decide what to do with Olympic medals.

The IOC has shown it is not afraid to remove athletes and teams of medals. The IOC stripped the medals from three U.S. relay teams at the Sydney Olympics after doping cases emerged post-Games.

Should the U.S. lose its gold medal, Russia would become gold medalists, Jamaica silver, and Great Britain would be given bronze.

Three Bids for 2015 World Champs

Three cities filed letters of intent to host the 2015 World Championships.

Beijing, London, and Chorzow, Poland, all submitted lettersby the March 10 deadline.

A decision on the 2015 host city will come at the November IAAF Council meeting.

London proposes using the stadium being built for the Olympics, reconfigured with seating for about 35,000.

Beijing would host the IAAF in the 80,000 seat National Stadium from the 2008 Olympics.

Chorzow offers the Silesian Stadium, biggest of the three bids with room for 110,000.

Written by Ed Hula III.