First failed doping test surfaces

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- Surinam's only Pan American Games medalist, 800-meter champion Letitia Vriesde, was stripped of her gold Sunday after testing positive for excessive caffeine.

Vriesde, 38, the defending champion who also ran at the 2000 Olympics, was her country's first Pan Ams champion when she won at Winnipeg. She's also won silver and bronze medals at the world championships.

It was the first failed doping test at the games.

Pan American Sports Organization president Mario Vasquez Rana said the amount of caffeine in her system was equivalent to "five gallons of coffee," and that Vriesde admitted her guilt.

"All of this is very painful," Vasquez Rana said, adding he feared another positive test was forthcoming.

Adriana Munoz of Cuba will now get the gold in the 800.

"I don't know how we as a nation should deal with this," Surinam Olympic Committee chairman Gerard van Dijk said. "This comes so shortly after that moment of glory a few days ago, and to have that moment taken away like this is painful."

Vriesde trains and lives in The Netherlands.

Both U.S. water polo teams took gold and qualified for the Olympics.

The women beat Canada 7-3 and celebrated by dunking coach Guy Baker in the pool and spreading an American flag above the water.

Goalie Jackie Frank (Long Beach, Calif.) made several superb saves as she held Canada scoreless for more than 12 minutes of the 28-minute game. She allowed just one goal in the second half.

"It feels awesome," she said. "It has always been my dream to go to the Olympics."

The men beat Brazil 13-7 as Tony Azevedo, another Long Beach resident, scored two goals, giving him a tournament-high 33.

The United States maintained a huge lead in the medals race with 149 to 107 with Cuba. The Americans have 63 golds, 42 silvers and 44 bronzes. Cuba is at 52-28-27.

The American baseball team outlasted Mexico 3-2 in 14 innings and will play either Cuba or surprising Nicaragua in the final.

Seth Smith of Mississippi scored the go-ahead run in the top of the 14th inning on a sacrifice fly by Rice's Paul Janish. Huston Street, a closer at Texas, gave the American collegians 8 2-3 innings of scoreless relief. He extended his scoreless innings streak to 29.

"It was what we did, I was just one guy out there," Street said. "It was simple: We were out to fight as hard as we could for the team. We played for each other and our country."

In tennis, Ferdinand Meligeni planned to end his career here after 13 years on tour. But after beating former world No. 1 Marcelo Rios of Chile in a thrilling match, 5-7, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), the Brazilian said he will reconsider.