Harrisons plan legal action

Calvin Harrison could still reach the Athens Olympics

US athletes Alvin and Calvin Harrison are planning to sue USA Track and Field over the ongoing US doping row.

Calvin faces a ban after a positive test for modafinil while twin Alvin has been charged with steroid use, despite never having tested positive.

"My attorney will proceed with a lawsuit against USA Track and Field for discrimination, bias and prejudice," said Alvin.

Calvin reached the 400m final at the US Olympic trials but Alvin missed out.

Alvin, one of four athletes charged in the wake of the investigation of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (Balco), said the controversy had affected his performance.

"If you looked at all the athletes, there's a lot of stress upon you in this process. You wonder what is going on and it weighs on your mind," he said.

The Harrisons are angry that USA Track and Field (USATF), the governing body for athletics in the US, upheld Jerome Young's appeal against a positive doping test and allowed him to compete in the 2000 Olympics.

Young was a member of the gold medal-winning 4x400m relay, which also included the Harrisons.

Young set to lose gold

Last month, the Court of Arbitration for Sport threw out Young's successful appeal and said USATF should not have allowed him to compete in Sydney.

"Jerome Young should not have been exonerated," Alvin Harrison said. "It was just wrong for them to let him come out here and compete again.

"USATF are the ones who are wrong in this. They know it and they are trying to cover it up."