Heptathlete Hesitates

LONDON, July 11 (AFP) - Olympic heptathlon championDenise Lewis is undecided about whether to compete inthe World Athletics Championships next month in Paris,she said in a statement released on Friday.
Although she easily reached the qualifying standard of6,105 points when she finished second in last weekend’sEuropean Cup of Combined Events in Tallinn, the30-year-old said she would only decide over the next fewweeks whether to take up her place.
``All things being well we are trying to prepare forParis, but will know for sure in the coming weeks giventhe right response to training,’’ Lewis said in a ajoint statement with coach Frank Dick.
Tallinn was the first heptathlon Lewis competed insince winning the Olympic title three years ago inSydney. Lewis insists defending her title at the 2004Olympics is her priority.
Lewis has been upset at media criticism of her choiceof German coach Ekkart Arbeit, who oversaw the programmeof systematic doping in the former East Germany.