Patrik Sinkewitz HGH acquittal being appealed

BERLIN (AP) - Germany's national anti-doping agency is appealing Patrik Sinkewitz's acquittal of using human growth hormone.

Sinkewitz tested positive for HGH in early 2011, but a sports court in Cologne cleared the German cyclist on Tuesday in a ruling stating that the World Anti-Doping Agency had not set a clear blood limit for HGH, a hormone that occurs naturally in the human body.

NADA's chief counsel, Dr. Lars Mortsiefer, says the agency disagrees as "it's not clear in particular why these high values were measured in Mr. Sinkewitz's blood. Therefore we're appealing to the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport).''

Sinkewitz previously served a one-year ban for testosterone use, and could face a lifetime ban if found guilty of a second doping violation.