The National Army promoted to major sergeants athletes Wanda Rijo and Juana Arrendel. The two benefit from a Dominican military program that affiliates outstanding Dominican athletes so that these may receive a salary and be able to spend more time training. Wanda Rijo won a gold medal in weight lifting at the Pan Am Games last week. And Juana Arrendel also won a gold medal, in the high jump, but was disqualified for testing positive on a doping test. Chief of the Army, Major General José Eliseo Noble Espejo said he recommended that President Leonel Fernández promote the two as a recognition to their extraordinary performance in the Pan Am Games. The Army chief says that the Army is 100% behind Arrendel, despite the misfortune. Wanda Rijo took a week off from training and announced she would get back to work to prepare for the World Weightlifting Championships that will open in Greece this November. She said that competition at those games is much tougher than that at the Pan Am Games.
