Ottey may not run in Olympic 100m

Merlene Ottey was named in a 48-member squad to represent Jamaica at the Olympic Games in Sydney yesterday, but officials remained undecided whether the veteran sprinter will compete in theindividual 100 metre event.

Merlene Ottey was named in a 48-member squad to represent Jamaica at the Olympic Games in Sydney yesterday, but officials remained undecided whether the veteran sprinter will compete in theindividual 100 metre event.

The Jamaican squad named has five athletes who competed at Atlanta in 1996, including Deon Hemmings, winner of the gold medal in the 400m hurdles and the long jumper James Beckford, a silver medallist.

The 40-year-old Ottey, struggling to return to her best after a one-year ban, only finished fourth in trials last week in her bid to compete for a sixth time at the Olympics.

She finished in 11.21 sec, behind the national champion, Peta-Gaye Dowdie, who retained her title with a time of 11.19, Beverley McDonald and Tanya Lawrence. The four will compete in the 4x100m relay.

Officials have yet to decide whether Ottey, who has won seven Olympic medals, can compete individually. For that to happen, one of the other runners would have to step aside.

Ottey withdrew from last year's World Championships in Seville, after traces of the steroid nandrolone were found in her system. The Jamaican Amateur Athletic Association cleared her, but the International Amateur Athletic Federation sent the case to arbitrators. On 3 July the ban was lifted after the IAAF said the Swiss laboratory had improperly tested her urine sample.