International Amateur Athletic Federation

Natalya Artymova, a Russian middle-distance runner, was banned by the International Amateur Athletic Federation after failing a drug test.

The International Amateur Athletic Federation, which governs track and field, contributed to the reconstruction of Sarajevo's Olympic Stadium, damaged by artillery shelling during the conflict between Muslims and Serbs. Now, to celebrate the reopening of the stadium that was used for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1984 Winter Games, the IAAF has scheduled a track meet there Sept. 15.

The International Amateur Athletic Federation has challenged a U.S. court ruling that it owes runner Butch Reynolds $27.3 million.

USA Track & Field officials said Thursday that the IAAF, which governs the sport internationally, has waived its "contamination rule" for the U.S. Olympic trials in Atlanta. IAAF officials said last month that they would disqualify anyone who competed against suspended athletes, such as heptathlete Gea Johnson, allowed to enter here under a temporary restraining order despite her positive steroid test in 1994.

High jumpers Yelena Rodina of the Soviet Union and Biljana Petrovic of Yugoslavia failed doping tests at the Golden Gala meet in Rome July 17, the International Amateur Athletic Federation said.

Without even leaving his Rancho Cucamonga home, Mike Powell had his MacArthuresque vow upon learning that his world record in the long jump was broken last Saturday--"I will get it back"--virtually fulfilled.

Primo Nebiolo will be elected without opposition today or Thursday to a fourth term as the international track and field federation's president, one of sport's most powerful positions. But he has been no match for the Swedish media, which have battered him to the extent that he is threatening to return home to Italy even before the World Championships begin Friday.

With the 1996 Summer Olympics still nearly two years away, it is curious that the schedules for competition in all sports but the flagship event, track and field, have been approved. "Somebody had to be last, I guess," said Amadeo Francis of Puerto Rico, a member of track's international federation committee in charge of scheduling. If only it were that simple.

Instead of submitting its next payment of almost $700,000 to the International Amateur Athletic Federation, one of the track and field governing body's major sponsors, Mobil Corporation, must pay the money to quarter-miler Butch Reynolds, a federal judge in Alexandria, Va., ruled Friday. "This is great," said Reynolds' lawyer, Mimi Dane of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, after the victory in her initial action aimed at collecting a $27.3-million judgment against the IAAF.

German sprinter Katrin Krabbe was banned for two years by the International Amateur Athletic Federation for bringing the sport into disrepute, sources said Sunday. Krabbe, winner of the 100 and 200 at the 1991 World Championships, was suspended for four years after failing an out-of-competition drug test last year. The German federation, however, reduced the suspension to one year.

Liza Minnelli agreed to appear in Friday night's opening ceremony for track and field's fourth World Championships, but she withdrew, according to organizers, because of a dispute with her agents. International Amateur Athletic Federation officials, who govern the sport, can sympathize, having recently found themselves on less than friendly terms with agents.

Everyone who follows track and field knows Butch Reynolds is the fastest 400-meter runner of all time. But the record he set Wednesday was for distance. He chased the International Amateur Athletic Federation from London to Monte Carlo. Before the 181 members here for their annual Congress voted overwhelmingly to move the headquarters, the IAAF's general secretary, Istvan Gyulai, said Reynolds' legal action was "the most important reason" for resettling early next year in Monte Carlo.

The International Amateur Athletic Federation has challenged a U.S. court ruling that it owes runner Butch Reynolds $27.3 million.