clarinews@clarinet.com (RUTH YOUNGBLOOD) (02/02/90)
AUCKLAND, New Zealand (UPI) -- Another weightlifter was disqualified for drug use at the Commonwealth Games Thursday on a day that brought Britain's Sebastian Coe one race closer to the end of great career in track and field. Organizers announced Welsh triple silver medalist Gareth Hives was disqualified for using anabolic steroids. He is the second Welshman and third weightlifter sent home in disgrace. ``We are shattered,'' said Myrddin John, general manager of the Welsh team. ``Everyone is is in a state of shock.'' It was the third straight day officials announced a weightlifter's ouster for cheating. Ricky Chaplin of Wales and Subrhatkumar Paul of India were eliminated earlier. John said no action would be taken against the Welsh team because ``weightlifting is an individual sport.'' But Hives and Chaplin may face lifetime suspension by the British Weightlifting Association. John lamented the drug incidents taking precedence over the competition. ``It's like you have a large white sheet and a little black spot is overwhelming all the positive aspects of the event,'' he said. Coe saw his dream of a double-gold finale smashed by the powerful Kenyans and a British compatriot. The only man to have twice won the Olympic 1,500 meters had two goals before leaving track and field for politics -- a gold medal in the 800 meters and another in the 1,500. The first was shattered by a dismal performance in which the 33-year-old middle-distance runner placed sixth in 1 minute, 47.24 seconds. In a race marked by shoving at the 200 meters mark, Kenya's Samuel Tirop won in 1:45.98. He was followed by teammate Nixon Kiprotich at 1:46.00, with England's Matthew Yates capturing the bronze in 1:46.62. ``I felt good going into the race, but feel pretty bad now,'' Coe said. ``I was confident, but the Kenyans were too sharp.'' Coe, who combined balance and speed to earn 12 world records, gets one more chance for a gold. The 1,500 will be run Saturday, the closing day of the Games. ``I'm still optimistic about the 1,500,'' he said. In his final race, the biggest threat comes from compatriot Peter Elliott, the 1,500-meter silver medalist at the 1987 World Championship and the 1988 Seoul Olympics. ``I will be the villain if I beat Seb,'' Elliott said. ``But I can handle that.'' Elsewhere, Australia's Andrew Lloyd overcame Kenyan Olympic champion John Ngugi to win the 5,000. Lloyd edged Ngugi on the last lap to win by eighth-tenths of a second in 13 minutes, 24.86 seconds. Ngugi recovered from a fall on the third lap to take a commanding lead. But Lloyd passed the African in the final stride. Ian Hamer of Wales was third in 13:25.63. Lloyd's triumph followed a series of personal and professional tragedies. His wife was killed in a car accident five years ago. The same accident left him with a broken ankle, resulting in seven operations. England claimed three golds from Diane Edwards in the 800 meters, Marcus Adam in the men's 200 meters and Tessa Sanderson in the women's javelin. Merlene Ottey completed a double for Jamaica by adding the 200 meters title to the 100 she previously won. High jumper Clarence Saunders presented Bermuda with its first gold of the Games, with a leap of 7-foot-8 3/4. Nigeria's Yussuf Alli claimed the long jump at 27-6 1/2 and England's Tessa Sanderson won the javelin gold for the third time in 12 years.