Monday February 26 11:34 AM ET
German Wrestlers Banned Over Leipold
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) - All German wrestlers have been suspended internationally because Olympic champion Alexander Leipold competed despite a ban for drug use.
The German Wrestling Union was notified by letter Monday from the international body.
Leipold was stripped of his Olympic gold medal after testing positive for nandrolone, a banned anabolic steroid. He was suspended for two years.
The German body and the world federation disagree on the length of the ban. Under German rules, Leipold can be barred a maximum of one year.
``I think the decision was made without considering our position,'' said Karl-Martin Dittmann, secretary general of the German Wrestling Union. ``I hope the ban will be lifted shortly.''
The German group, fearing sanctions from international wrestling authorities, has been trying to stop Leipold from competing in Germany.
Leipold obtained a court injunction this month that allowed him to wrestle for his club. The Frankfurt court reimposed the ban until the case is heard again Thursday.
Leipold, who contends the nandrolone unknowingly came from food supplements, also is fighting to have to have his two-year international ban lifted. He has an April 22 hearing before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland.
The freestyle wrestler captured the gold medal in the 1671/2-pound division at the Sydney Games. He was stripped of his medal by the IOC and the gold medal was awarded to losing American finalist Brandon Slay.
German Wrestlers Banned Over Leipold
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) - All German wrestlers have been suspended internationally because Olympic champion Alexander Leipold competed despite a ban for drug use.
The German Wrestling Union was notified by letter Monday from the international body.
Leipold was stripped of his Olympic gold medal after testing positive for nandrolone, a banned anabolic steroid. He was suspended for two years.
The German body and the world federation disagree on the length of the ban. Under German rules, Leipold can be barred a maximum of one year.
``I think the decision was made without considering our position,'' said Karl-Martin Dittmann, secretary general of the German Wrestling Union. ``I hope the ban will be lifted shortly.''
The German group, fearing sanctions from international wrestling authorities, has been trying to stop Leipold from competing in Germany.
Leipold obtained a court injunction this month that allowed him to wrestle for his club. The Frankfurt court reimposed the ban until the case is heard again Thursday.
Leipold, who contends the nandrolone unknowingly came from food supplements, also is fighting to have to have his two-year international ban lifted. He has an April 22 hearing before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland.
The freestyle wrestler captured the gold medal in the 1671/2-pound division at the Sydney Games. He was stripped of his medal by the IOC and the gold medal was awarded to losing American finalist Brandon Slay.