NEW YORK -- The dispute between the governing body of athletics in the United States and the country's Olympic chiefs should be resolved soon, USA Track and Field chief executive Craig Masback said Wednesday.

Media reports this week claimed the United States Olympic Committee warned Masback it would cut funding unless his organization cooperated with the International Olympic Committee over track athlete Jerome Young's drug case.

"We expect it to be resolved ... we expect there will be developments soon," Masback told reporters without going into any further detail.

Masback added that a resolution was likely well in advance of the Olympic Games in Greece in August, and added: "We have a better relationship with USOC than we ever have had."

Young tested positive for steroids in 1999 but was cleared on appeal and went on to win a gold medal as part of the U.S.'s 4x400m relay team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

The IOC wants the USATF to provide an explanation as to why Young was cleared on appeal.

Masback denied he was angry that USOC's warning, which according to reports came in a letter sent in December, had been made public.

"I do not begrudge them talking about it," he said.

"The USOC have been transparent on this issue all the way along. We know they feel strongly and we respect that."

Welcoming President Bush's call in his State of the Union address for sports, notably athletics, to "get tough" and "get rid" of steroid abuse, Masback said: "We have been dedicated to that (goal) for 15 years.

"We have not always got it right, but the commitment has been there."

At the news conference at New York's Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, Masback insisted that track and field, especially in the U.S., would put on-going doping controversies behind it to enjoy a successful Olympic year.

"The public is interested in performances," he said. "Olympic year is always an important time, but people will not stop watching because of other issues."