RUSSIAN SWIMMER ZHIVANEVSKAYA FAILS DRUG TEST.

Byline: Daily News Wire Services

Swimmer Nina Zhivanevskaya became the third Russian and the fourth athlete overall to fail a urine test for the stimulant and masking agent Bromantan, the International Olympic Committee said Tuesday.

Zhivanevskaya's first-place finish in the consolation final of the women's 200-meter backstroke was erased.

Swimmer Andrei Korneyev, in the 200-meter breaststroke, and Greco-Roman wrestler Zafar Gulyov, in the 105-1/2-pound class, were stripped of bronze medals on Monday. They appealed.

Nabbed earlier for bromantan was Lithuanian cyclist Rita Raznaite. Her 13th-place finish in the sprint was wiped out.

Tuesday, the IOC banned Dr. Vitaly Slionssarenko, the Lithuanian cycling team physician, and revoked the credential of team coach Boris Vasilyev for drug-related offenses.

Trainer defects: A veteran Cuban boxing trainer has defected, saying he feared government punishment after he criticized harsh training methods in his country.

Mariano Leyva, who surfaced in Miami after disappearing in Atlanta on Saturday, is the fourth Cuban to defect during this Olympic year, and the first during the games.

Leyva's wife of 23 years and four children were left behind in Cuba.

Boxers sign: Two boxers who fled Cuba's training camp in Mexico last month became full-fledged capitalists by signing contracts with Main Events Promotions.

Main Events president Dino Duva said Joel Casamayor and Ramon Garbey - who had been trained by Leyva - would make their professional debuts on a card featuring Pernell Whitaker Sept. 20 in Miami.

But the validity of the contracts has been challenged in court by Top Rank, which claims it had a deal with the fighters.

Reputation shot: The ex-wife of seventh-place shot-putter C.J. Hunter said he owes her $16,000 - including almost $6,000 in unpaid support for two children.

Kimberly Kendrick of Arvada, Colo., said she knows Hunter has money. Top-ranked in the world by USA Track and Field in 1994, he has an $80,000-a-year contract with a sports drink manufacturer, she said.