Athletics: IAAF may challenge the reprieve of Krabbe

KATRIN KRABBE, the double world sprint champion from Germany, will not be able to defend her titles in August's Stuttgart championships despite finishing a drugs ban the day before competition begins.

The International Amateur Athletic Federation's general secretary, Istvan Gyulai, said yesterday Krabbe would not be able to take part in Stuttgart in August because she would not have recorded a qualifying time in competition. Krabbe had her four-year suspension reduced to one yesterday by the German athletics federation, the DLV.

Gyulai also indicated the IAAF was unlikely to accept the DLV's reason for reducing the ban - that there was 'no clear doping offence'. Krabbe, Grit Breuer and Manuela Derr tested positive last July for clenbuterol, a stimulant and anabolic agent. The IAAF automatically bans first offenders using an anabolic steroid for four years. Some scientists have argued that clenbuterol is a stimulant only but Gyulai confirmed the IAAF's stance that it was an anabolic agent. 'It has always been an anabolic steroid,' he said.

He added that clenbuterol had been included in the category of banned drugs when Krabbe tested positive last July. Krabbe has said she was told the drug was not banned when she took it to help her breathing during intensive training sessions.

Tony Ward, spokesman for the British Athletic Federation, said: 'It's not up to us to pass judgement on the decision of another federation, but this case highlights two problems.

'Clarification is needed on the status of clenbuterol. Too much doubt clearly exists. The other need is for all federations to get their act together on rules and regulations regarding doping, otherwise athletes will continue to find loopholes.'

Ludmila Narozhilenko, Russia's world indoor 60m hurdles record- holder, has been called to appear before her federation after a positive drugs test.

Zhou Xin, a Chinese club swimmer, has been banned for two years after testing positive for the anabolic steroid methandienone at the PekingWorld Cup meeting last January, the international swimming federation, Fina, said yesterday.