MAGIC'S PLACE ON TEAMS NOT AT RISK

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, January 24, 1992                   TAG: 9201240116
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
MAGIC'S PLACE ON TEAMS NOT AT RISK
Calls for the Australian basketball team to boycott Olympic games against the United States if Magic Johnson plays were met Thursday by a worldwide wave of support for the HIV-infected superstar.
Johnson announced his retirement from the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 7, after testing positive for the virus that causes AIDS.
International basketball officials and U.S. Olympic Committee representatives said there was no health reason to keep Johnson out of the Summer Games. Johnson has said he wants to keep his spot on the U.S. team for Barcelona, although no final decision has been made.
"The risk, especially in a sport like basketball, is very, very, very low," said Dr. Jim Montgomery, the chief physician for the U.S. Summer Olympic team.
On Wednesday, Dr. Brian Sando, the senior medical director of the Australian Olympic Federation's basketball program, said that Johnson presented a realistic threat of passing on the infection if he played in Barcelona.
"I would certainly recommend that our basketballers not compete with a team of which Magic Johnson was a member," Sando said. That risk - even though it's small - you cannot absolutely say it's never going to occur."
Several Australian players agreed, but Magic's participation, both in the All-Star game and in Barcelona, got plenty of support.
"We have consulted with league medical advisers and with Magic's doctors and have been assured that Magic's competing in the All-Star game should not pose any health risk to Magic or the other participants," NBA Commissioner David Stern said.
"Every indication that we have been given by the International Olympic Committee, FIBA, and the United States Olympic Committee has confirmed our own medical advisories that Magic Johnson's eligibility for the 1992 Olympic Games is not in question as a result of being HIV positive," said Dave Gavitt, president of USA Basketball. "Our position has never changed. . . . We are very hopeful [Magic's] health will permit him to fully participate."
"There is no documentation of a single case of HIV being passed through sport," said Mike Moran, a USOC spokesman. "Frankly, in basketball, we feel the risk is zero."

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB