HAVANA. Aug 7: US athletics officials on Tuesday came to the defence of Cuban President Fidel Castro in a

controversy about whether he snubbed an American sprinter by not presenting her with a medal during the third day of the Pan-American Games, reports Reuter.

The Incident during Monday's medal ceremony for the women's 100 meters has become one of the hottest topics of discussion among foreign Journalists seeking clues to whether the Games •will set off an Improvement in US-Cuba relations.

Castro presented the gold medal to Cuba's Uliana Allen and bronze rpedallist Beverly McDonald of Jamaica but the silver medal was presented to US sprinter Chryste Gaines, who was holding an American flag, by Pan-American sports organisation president Mario Vazquez Rana of Mexico.

The head of the US track team, Jose Rodriguez, told a

press conference Tuesday the incident disturbed American officials so much that they raised it with top Cuban officials and were now convinced it was a simple misunderstanding with no snub Intended.

There was confusion and Castro deferred to a Pan-American sports organisation official to place the silver medal," Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said he raised the matter with Cuba's National Sports Institute vice-president Alberto Juantorena, a former 400 and 800-meter Olympic champion.

It was a miscommunication and not deliberate." Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez pointed out that at the end of the medals' ceremony Castro shook hands with Gaines while she was still holding hfer flag.

US women's team coach Karen Dennis said "Gaines also was convinced that Castro did not Intend any snub."

"She was elated that Castro shook her hand and she had-her American flag in her other hand." Dennis said.