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Still banned IAAF upholds Baumann's two-year suspension
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- An arbitration panel of track and field's international governing body has upheld the two-year suspension of former Olympic 5,000-meter champion Dieter Baumann of Germany. Baumann, who tested positive for the anabolic steroid nandrolone last Oct. 19 and Nov. 12, had appealed the suspension. He contended he was the victim of a plot when traces of the drug were found in toothpaste he supposedly used. On his web site, Baumann offered $130,000 to anyone who could provide information on who spiked his toothpaste. The arbitration panel of the International Amateur Athletic Federation conducted a hearing in Sydney on Saturday. Baumann, 35, attended the hearing to argue his case and hoped to be reinstated in time to compete in the Olympic 5,000 preliminaries Sept. 27. The German Athletic Federation reinstated Baumann on July 13. The federation's legal committee ruled that there had been irregularities in the collection and storage of his urine sample. Under revised IAAF rules, the suspension will be in effect for two years from the date of his hearing, meaning he will be eligible again on Sept. 16, 2002, according to IAAF spokesman Georgio Reineri. Since Baumann will be 37 by then, the IAAF ruling could effectively end his career. The IAAF is under pressure to be tough on drugs, especially after stinging criticism for reducing high jump world record-holder Javier Sotomayor's cocaine suspension. The IAAF banned Sotomayor for two years, but reduced his suspension to one year earlier this month, citing "exceptional circumstances" and an exemplary 15-year career. Baumann, married to former Austrian 1,500-meter runner Isabelle Baumann, won the 5,000 at the Barcelona Games and was the silver medalist in that event at the 1988 Seoul Games. He finished fourth in the 5,000 four years ago in Atlanta. In 1997, Baumann became the first European to break 13 minutes in the 5,000.
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