2000.01.23

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) - The International Fencing Federation will drop plans to use new wireless technology for epee events at the Sydney Olympics after fencers said the equipment was making scoring errors.

The new technology was tested at the Challenge Australia World Cup competition at Darling Harbor but provoked disagreements between fencers and with officials.

Only a few matches were completed before officials switched back to the traditional spool and wire system.

The change came too late to prevent a confrontation between at least two fencers and heated protests from team managers.

Hugues Obry of France claimed the new technology had nearly cost him his match against American Soren Thompson.

The fencing federation said Sunday that wireless technology would not be used in epee but could be used in sabre because the scoring system was different. Three weapons are used in the Olympics: epee, sabre and foil.