German high hurdler Falk Balzer was suspended for two years by his national federation today after testingpositive for nandrolone.
The German Athletics Federation (DLV) said in a statement that its disciplinary committee had imposed the ban on Balzer after hearing theathlete.
The 27-year-old, who won a bronze medal over 60 metres hurdles at the 1999 world indoor championship in Maebashi, Japan, tested positive forthe banned steroid in training on January 19th.
The DLV said he would be suspended until February 21st, 2003 - just two years after the result of his positive test was announced.
The high hurdler, a silver medallist at the 1998 European championships in Budapest and one of the most dangerous European rivals of Britain'sworld champion Colin Jackson over the past few years, has denied any wrongdoing.
A DNA test which he had himself asked for has confirmed that he had tested positive.
Balzer became the second top German athlete to be suspended for nandrolone since last September, when former Olympic 5,000 metres championDieter Baumann was banned for two years by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF).