KAYAK MEDAL MAKES HISTORY
Brabants: silver medal hope. Picture: Juda Ngwenya/Reuters
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TIM BRABANTS, Britain's first ever Olympic sprint canoeing medallist, retains a slim hope of having his bronze upgraded to a silver. Brabants, a 23-year-old medical student from Walton-on-Thames, finished third in the men's K1 1000 metres in Sydney.
But Petar Merkov, the Bulgarian who finished second, is involved in a drugs controversy which could yet see him disqualified. Reports in Bulgaria have alleged that Merkov tested positive for a banned diuretic - used as a masking agent for steroids - a fortnight ago.
The International Canoe Federation (ICF), the sport's governing body, have so far been unable to get hold of the test results, so Merkov's Olympic placing stands. But Great Britain's Alan Williams is one of 15 national team managers who have written to the ICF asking for the situation to be clarified.
Williams said: "Prior to the competition we heard of these test results and wanted to know the ICF's position. They told us the tests had taken place in a Bulgaria and they had not been able to make contact with the laboratory yet.
"That remains the case. Even if they do see the results, whether or not the test results will be officially recognised by the ICF is not clear because it wasn't a ICF test. But the whole thing seems very dubious."
Brabants added: "I am very happy with bronze and do not want to win a silver by default. But equally, if somebody is found to have cheated they should be punished."
Brabants was still only fourth with 250m of his race to go, but found a late burst which took him into third behind Merkov and Norway's Knut Holmann, who regained the title he won in Atlanta four years ago.
Britain have won medals in other Olympic canoeing disciplines - Paul Ratcliffe took silver in the K1 slalom event at these Games - but never before in sprints, which are raced on the same stretch of calm water as Britain's rowing successes.
"I think that this bronze is only the start for me and for the British canoeing team in general. We wanted to raise the profile of the sport and I think we have done that.
"If there has been a message for Britain from these Olympics, it is that minority sports are forcing their way into people's attention."
JOE HARE
Sunday Times
