Athletics: Reynolds' roller-coaster

BUTCH REYNOLDS, the 400 metres world record holder, believes a vindictive group of international athletics administrators is out to break him.

On Monday, Reynolds had his suspension for a positive drug test extended by four and a half months for running while suspended.

Reynolds was banned for two years by the International Amateur Athletic Federation after a meet in Monaco in August 1990, but obtained a court order allowing him to compete in the US Olympic trials in New Orleans in July.

'They're trying their best to break me financially, which they did,' he said. 'They're trying their best to break my mental stability. I don't know how much longer I can hold on on this roller-coaster ride.'

In Germany, Katrin Krabbe's athletics club sacked her trainer yesterday for giving the double world sprint champion the banned stimulant, Clenbuterol.

'Thomas Springstein irresponsibly betrayed his duty as trainer of caring for the athletes under his charge,' the Neubrandenburg Sports Club said.

Springstein admitted last week to buying Clenbuterol on the black market for Krabbe and her team-mates, Grit Breuer and Manuela Derr. The club said it would decide later whether to expel Krabbe and Breuer.