Fight Against Doping -- Pechstein Blames Testing Mistakes; Hardy Sets World Record

Banned Olympic speed skating champion Claudia Pechstein of Germany shows documentation that she claims proves mistakes were made in the testing process that led to her doping ban . (Getty Images)Pechstein Blames Faulty Testing for Positive Result

Olympic speed skating champion Claudia Pechstein of Germany attributes mistakes in the testing process to the positive result in her doping test that led to her two-year ban.

At a press conference on Thursday, with her manager and lawyer present, Pechstein outlined her claims with video projections of documents and details of test results and procedures.

Pechstein’s manager Ralf Grengel said suspect barcode numbers on samples were among the abnormalities found in the testing process.

“It shows that the ISU has repeatedly been sloppy in this case,” said Grengel as he showed two different barcode numbers that allegedly belonged to the same sample. “How is this possible?”

The International Skating Union said Pechstein’s blood profile was determined to be abnormal after a series of tests, including one during the world all-around championships in February. As a result, the ISU gave Pechstein a two-year ban, backdated to Feb. 9.

If Pechstein’s ban, which she has appealed, is upheld, the five-time gold medal winning speed skater will be ineligible to compete at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Hardy Marks Return from Doping Ban with World Record

Swimmer Jessica Hardy of the U.S. set a new world record in the 50-meter breaststroke in her first meet since the end of her one-year doping ban. Jessica Hardy set a new world record in the 50-meter breaststroke in her return to competition from a one-year doping ban. (Getty Image)

The 22-year old Hardy recorded a time of 29.95 in a 50-meter split of a 100 breaststroke time trial at the U.S. Open National Championships in Federal Way, Wash. on Thursday. She surpassed the previous record of 30.09 set by Yuliya Efimova of Russia at the FINA world championships on Aug. 2.

Hardy is returning to competition after a two-year ban that was handed down after she was tested positive for a low level of clenbuterol, a prohibited anabolic agent. She was prohibited from swimming in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing as a result.

Her ban was suspended in May after the American Arbitration Association discovered that the positive result was caused by a contaminated nutritional supplement. The World Anti-Doping Agency and FINA have appealed to the Court of Arbitration of Sport to reinstate the ban.

Johnson Suspicious About Gatlin’s Ties with Graham

Olympic sprinting gold medalist Michael Johnson expressed his reservations about banned sprinter Justin Gatlin’s association with coach Trevor Graham, who hasMichael Johnson said banned sprinter Justin Gatlin’s association with coach Trevor Graham, a major figure in the BALCO investigation, hurts his chances of proving he is not a drug cheat. (Getty Images)been linked with a number of banned athletes, in his column in London’s The Daily Telegraph on Monday.

Johnson wrote in his column that he wasn’t surprised when Gatlin tested positive for banned substances in 2006 due to his ties with Graham, who is a major figure in the BALCO investigation and has coached a number of athletes who have been banned for drug use.

"Even if Gatlin is innocent, now he will be suspected forever and he is about to see the danger of his continued association with Graham, because that association almost guarantees that no one will give him the benefit of the doubt," said Johnson in the column.

Gatlin was handed an eight-year ban for doping in 2006. The ban was later reduced to four years.

Briefs…

… The Court of Arbitration for Sport has dismissed an appeal by cyclist Andrei Kashechkin of Kazakhstan on a two-year ban for blood doping that was handed down after he was expelled from the Tour de France in 2007.

… Cyclist Mikel Astarloza of Spain, who won a stage at last month’s Tour de France, was suspended by the International Cycling Union after testing positive in an out-of-competition test for EPO. Astarloza finished 11th overall in the Tour de France.

Written by Greg Oshust.