Cycling: NZ bid for Munich cycling medal turned down

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has turned down an application to award New Zealand cyclist Bruce Biddle a bronze medal for his performance at the 1972 Munich Games.

Biddle finished fourth in the road race but was promoted to third after Spain's Jaime Huelamo failed a drugs test. However, Biddle was never awarded the bronze because he was never tested for drugs, a stipulation then for all medal winners.

The New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) this year launched a bid to have the medal belatedly awarded, pointing out that Biddle offered himself to the drug testers after the race.

However, a recent IOC executive meeting ruled they could not over-rule the international sports rule of the day.

An NZOC staff member was told of the decision by IOC officials in Lausanne last week.

But the NZOC is still awaiting written confirmation. IOC president Jacques Rogge apparently sent a letter outlining the ruling two weeks ago but it had not arrived.

NZOC spokesman Gordon Irving said the 31-year-old issue was therefore not completely closed but it now appeared unlikely Italy-based Biddle would receive a medal.

"The IOC can't or won't overrule the International Cycling Union rules of 1972," Irving said. "Cycling ran the cycling component of the Olympic Games then so the IOC can do nothing about it."

When Rogge was in New Zealand in December he was optimistic Biddle's case was a strong one.

However, he also warned it was rare for a medal to be bestowed retrospectively.

- NZPA