Gold goes to Hayden

Guam's Lori Cruz Hayden is a world gold medalist in amateur bodybuilding.

The International Federation of Body Builders stated in a news release that the initial gold medalist at the 2003 World Women's Bodybuilding, Fitness and Body Fitness Championships -- Russia's Alevtina Goroshinskaya -- did not pass doping-control tests. The federation named Hayden the official winner and gold medalist of the lightweight division.

The September competition in Santa Susanna, Spain, was Hayden's third World Women's Championships. She first competed in 2001 in Brazil, where she finished 15th in her weight class. The following year, in the Czech Republic, she finished in eighth place.

"I'm very excited," Hayden, 31, said. "I wish I had won it back then because it would have been nice to have the Guam hymn played, but it's still great to be awarded the gold now."

"One of my goals is to do better than the last time I competed. I'm very lucky to be able to reach my goals," she added.

Hayden said the federation sent a letter to Joe Duenas, the president of the Guam National Physique Committee and vice president of the federation, informing him that Hayden would be sent a gold medal.

"This is the greatest accomplishment of any Guam athlete," Duenas said. "It is a great moment for our island and the people of Guam."

Czech Republic's Jitka Stastna, who initially placed third in the lightweight division, will be awarded the silver medal, the federation's Web site states.

Article 37.1 of the federation's doping-control program states, "Where an athlete has tested positive and is stripped of his or her medal, that medal shall be re-awarded to the appropriate finalist only if that finalist has been drug tested and has returned a negative test result."

Based on doping-control guidelines, Goroshinskaya will not be able to participate in federation-sanctioned events for a period of time based on her doping offense, and the Russian bodybuilding federation will be warned and assessed fines.

The prohibited classes of substances are anabolic agents, diuretics, narcotic analgesics, peptide hormones, mimetics and analogues, and stimulants, the federation Web site states.

"I am so proud and happy that Guam has been recognized at the highest level of amateur bodybuilding," Hayden said. "It is satisfying to know that when you work hard and follow the rules, you can be successful.

"This was a great year for me. I want to thank everyone for their support and encouragement," the Agana Heights resident added.

With the gold-medal finish, Hayden qualifies to compete as a professional bodybuilder at federation events, the release states. Hayden adds the gold medal from the world championships to her two gold medals from the 2003 South Pacific Games in Suva, Fiji, among other bodybuilding awards and distinctions.

In Fiji, Hayden won the middleweight division and was named best overall female bodybuilder in the South Pacific.