July 27, 2004

Three weeks before the Athens Olympics, the chief executive of the United States Olympic Committee harshly criticized the leadership of the United States track federation for failing to admit the seriousness of the drug problem in the sport. He also warned that after the Games, the Olympic committee would take a much harder look at the sport. As the scandal from the federal investigation of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative continues to shake track and field, Jim Scherr, the chief executive of the U.S.O.C., said he was disturbed that the drug-related issues had dominated the pre-Games attention, taking away from deserving athletes who rarely find the spotlight.

Google Inc, in Securities and Exchange Commission filing, expects its shares to sell for $108 to $135 each, valuing company at $29 billion to $36 billion; proposed price would value company at 150 to 187 times its last four quarters of earnings; chart; photo (M)

Hundreds of Vietnam veterans arrive in Boston to enlist as John Kerry's shock troops in campaign to win hearts and minds of independent voters and nullify Republicans' traditional advantage on issues of national security; Democrats are putting military veterans front and center throughout their national convention; Kerry will brandish his combat experience to bolster his credentials as would-be commander-in-chief in time of war, when voters' natural impulse is to keep incumbent in office; members of his Vietnam Swift boat crew are giving prime-time speeches and speaking at countless off-carmera functions all week; Max Cleland, former Democratic senator who was wounded in Vietnam, will introduce Kerry as party's nominee; photos (M)

Afghan President's Choice Of Running Mate Is Surprise President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan entered the October presidential race with the brother of a martyred hero as a running mate for vice president, rather than his powerful defense minister. PAGE A3 Plan to Reduce Drug Costs A federal proposal could save taxpayers at least $16 billion over the next decade by slashing the amounts Medicare pays for many cancer and lung drugs. BUSINESS DAY, PAGE C1

Article on media focus at Democratic and Republican presidential conventions; notes that political reporters, totaling 15,000, outnumber delegates by 6 to 1 at Democratic convention in Boston; some comment on pomp and frustrations of political conventions; photo (M)