Canberra Times (Australia)
November 7, 2004 Sunday Final Edition
Drugs, violence enliven chess tourney
by Lucy Gibson
DRUG scandals, corruption and violence might have tainted the image
of one of the world’s most respected pastimes, but they have made
fascinating reading for followers of The Canberra Times chess
column.Columnist Ian Rogers reported from the 36th Olympiad in Spain
that Canberra chess identity Shaun Press faced a one-year ban from
the game after refusing a drugs test.Press, representing Papua New
Guinea, his country of birth, offered to list to the international
chess federation FIDE, any medications he was taking, but refused to
give a urine sample on the grounds that he had not been presented
with any evidence to say he was suspected of taking an illegal
substance.Testers dismissed Press, but later called him back to read
the regulations to ensure he knew the consequences of his actions.At
a hearing on the final morning of the Olympiad, Press defended his
position, saying the drug tests had been conducted illegally and
thereforehe could not be found guilty of refusing an illegal drug
test.However, it was reported there was no discussion of whether he
was guilty or innocent, rather a debate on what penalty should be
imposed.The plot thickened when it was alleged one of the tribunal
had a personal interest in seeing Press stripped of the points he had
accumulated during the tournament.Surinam’s Dr Dewperkash Gajadin
lost to the lower-rated Press during the Olympiad. If Press had his
points annulled it would mean Dr Gajadin’s team would move ahead of
PNG. Dr Gajadin did not declare his interest and, rather than vote in
favour of a one-year ban, it is believed he cast the decisive vote
which resulted in Press losing all his points and PNG subsequently
dropping12 places in the final standings of the Olympiad.But the saga
didn’t stop there.On the morning of the final round the Israeli team
complained of an Internet betting plunge for Georgia to lose heavily
to medal favourites Armenia in the final round.Then Georgia dropped
its two top players and lost, so Armenia won the bronze medal. A few
moments later the Georgian Grandmaster was arrested and charged with
assault for head-butting a security guard.Bet you won’t miss the
column next week, will you?