Athletics: IAAF to rule on Mitchell

THE WORLD governing body, the International Amateur Athletic Federation, is to examine the case of the American sprinter Dennis Mitchell after reports he escaped a drugs ban by claiming high levels of testosterone in his system were the result of having sex and drinking beer.

Mitchell failed a test in April and was suspended by the IAAF, pending an appeal to the USA Track and Field drugs panel.

The USA board then cleared Mitchell in December without making the reason public. However, a report appearing in the Daily Telegraph maintained that Mitchell escaped a ban by claiming the night before giving the urine sample he had sex at least four times and drank five bottles of beer.

The case will be studied by the IAAF drugs commission next month, before making a recommendation to the IAAF council in May in Seville. Giorgio Reineri, the IAAF media director, said: "We received an explanation with documents from the US Panel, who decided to clear Dennis Mitchell.

"The panel made their decision on the basis that they were not sure from where the testosterone came, if it was a product of the body itself or the result of something from outside the body."