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Saturday, September 30
Raducan gets birthday welcome back home
Associated Press
BUCHAREST, Romania -- About 1,000 well-wishers welcomed home
gymnast Andreea Raducan on Saturday with the country -- and Romanian
sports authorities -- deeply bitter over a cold-medicine dispute
that cost her an Olympic gold medal.
"It is a lovely surprise on my birthday," said Raducan, who
turned 17 while en route from Sydney. "I am sure I need a rest."
President Emil Constantinescu escorted the 4-foot-10 gymnast
from the aircraft. A brass band played the national anthem.
Clutching two enormous bouquets of flowers, she raced into her
parents' arms.
"She is my golden girl," sobbed her mother, Simina.
Her supporters denounced the decision to cancel her victory in
the women's all-around competition after testing positive for
pseudoephedrine, a banned stimulant found in cold pills. She was
allowed to keep a silver medal in the vault and the team gold.
Romanians said the medicine was prescribed by a team doctor, and
even the International Olympic Committee agreed that Andreea was
not to blame.
"They stole her medal and they mocked our athletes," said
Aurica Bufu, 62, who brought along a teen fan who lives in a state
orphanage.
Coach Octavian Belu said Raducan and her young teammates will
rebound, but others will not.
"They are children -- they forgive and forget," said Belu in an
interview with private television station PRO-TV. "We will not
forgive or forget. It was a nightmare."
"We have five medals, but we should have had six. (The IOC)
thought it was better to exaggerate and forget the most beautiful
sentiment of the Olympics _ tolerance," he added.
The teammate who was elevated to Raducan's gold medal position
said her sports career is over.
"It is the right moment to retire," said Simona Amanar.
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