Men Of Substance

By Melissa August, Val Castronovo, Matthew Cooper, Daren Fonda, Belinda Luscombe, Ellin Martens, Benjamin Nugent, Eric Roston, Susanna Schrobsdorff, Josh Tyrangiel

THE DOG ATE MY I.O.C.-SANCTIONED SUPPLEMENTS

Some of the athletes and coaches disqualified from the Sydney Games offered impressive, though futile, explanations for breaking drug rules:

DIETER BAUMANN To participate in the Games, the German distance runner tried to appeal a ban he received in 1999 when he tested positive for NANDROLONE. He claimed he was the victim of steroid-spiked toothpaste. His appeal was rejected.

SERGEI VOYNOV This Uzbek track coach said 15 vials of HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE found in his luggage were to treat his baldness. He was expelled and fined $5,500.

ANDRIS REINHOLDS The Latvian rower tested positive for NANDROLONE and blamed it on Chinese herbal medicine. Reinholds was expelled from the Olympics.