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November 19, 2002.
IOC President Praises Cuba Drug Lab
Mon Nov 18, 6:27 PM ET
HAVANA (AP) - IOC president Jacques Rogge is impressed with a drug-testing
laboratory that Cuba hopes will be certified by Olympic authorities.
One day after touring the $2.7 million lab, Rogge called the facility "one
of the most modern on the continent."
He said that Patrick Schamasch, director of the IOC's medical commission,
would arrive in Cuba on Nov. 30 to make the third of four inspections necessary
for IOC certification.
Drug-testing labs in Brazil and Colombia were the first in Latin America
approved by the IOC.
Rogge came to Cuba on Saturday for a five-day visit. Shortly after his plane
landed, he joined Cuban President Fidel Castro at Latinoamericano Stadium to
speak with members of the Cuban and Panamanian teams participating in the
Intercontinental Baseball Cup.
On Wednesday, Rogge will travel on to Guatemala, then El Salvador (news -
web sites), where he will participate in the Central American and Caribbean
Games. Late in the month, he goes to Mexico for an IOC meeting.
Panama and Cuba are favorites for gold in the Intercontinental Baseball
Cup
By Luis R. Varela, Associated Press Writer. Mon Nov 18,
5:44 PM ET
HAVANA - Cuba and Panama were favored to win the Intercontinental Baseball
Cup as the competition was narrowed down to three teams from Latin America and
one from Asia going into Tuesday's semifinals.
Panama qualified for the second round after eliminating Japan in a 5-1
victory on Sunday and the Dominican Republic secured its place in the semifinals
by surprising Taiwan 5-3 on Sunday. South Korea is the lone semifinalist from
outside Latin America.
The schedule for the semifinals will be determined Monday night after a
night game between Cuba and Panama.
If Cuba wins, it will play the Dominican Republic while Panama will face
South Korea. If Panama wins, the semifinals will begin with Panama challenging
the Dominican Republic and Cuba playing South Korea.
The final is scheduled for Wednesday.
It's the first time in 21 years that Panama has reached the semifinals of
the Intercontinental Cup, thanks in part to the talents of former players in the
American major leagues, including Roberto Kelly, Sherman Obando and Orlando
Miller.
"This is the best team in 20 years that Panama has presented in this
type of competition," Panama coach Anibal Reluz told The Associated Press. "My
team can win the championship and that's our goal."
The Panamanian players suspect they will reach the final and face Cuba.
Panama has had the best batting record in the tournament, including a .429
average for Kelly.
The team's best pitchers are Roger Deago, who knocked Japan out of the
tournament, and Jorge Cortes, who is expected to pitch against Cuba if both
teams make it to the finals.
Relief pitcher Lenin Picota has done an excellent job of closing.
The Cubans have pitcher Jose Ibar, who has two shutouts, and relief pitcher
Maels Rodriguez. | 
