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![]() Monday, July 27, 1998 Published at 20:23 GMT 21:23 UK ![]() ![]() Sport ![]() US athletics stars suspended ![]() Randy Barnes could face a life-time ban ![]() Two of the biggest names in US athletics - shot putter Randy Barnes and sprinter Dennis Mitchell - have been suspended indefinitely for drug use. Barnes, the 1996 Olympic gold medalist and the world indoor and outdoor record-holder, and Mitchell, the 1992 Olympic bronze medalist in the 100m, were cited by the sport's world governing body for failing drug tests in April this year.
His suspension was handed down last week and represents his first drug offence. The International Amateur Athletic Federation has not officially announced the suspensions and the precise terms of the punishment have yet to be determined. So far, only the first 'A' samples have been tested, but that is sufficient for the IAAF to levy a suspension. If their 'B' samples are positive, the IAAF will then rule on the severity of the punishment. If the 'B' sample is negative, they are cleared. Barnes could be banned for life because this is his second offence. He was suspended for two years starting in 1991 for the banned substance methyltestosterone, a kind of steroid, at an athletics meet in Malmo, Sweden, in 1990. This time, the substance is androstenedione, a banned nutritional supplement. Mitchell tested positive for testosterone. If found guilty following the 'B' sample, he probably would receive a two-year ban.
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