USA’s Barnes, Mitchell suspended for steroid use Barnes could face a life suspension if his second sample is also positive By Bert Rosenthal The Associated Press NEW YORK — Two of the biggest names in U.S. track and field — shot putter Randy Barnes and sprinter Dennis Mitchell — have been suspended indefinitely for drug use, The Associated Press learned today. Barnes, the 1996 Olympic gold medalist and the world indoor and outdoor record-holder, and Mitchell, the 1992 Olympic bronze medalist in the 100 me ters, were cited by the sport’s world governing body for failing drug tests April 1. Barnes, who could face a life suspension, was tested in Charleston, W.Va., and Mitchell in Gainesville, Fla. Mitchell is president of USA Track and Field’s Athletes Advi sory Committee, the athletes’ voice in the national governing body, which has taken a hard stance against drugs. His suspension was handed down last week and represents his first drug offense. The International Amateur Athletic Federation did not offi cially announce the suspensions, and the precise terms of the pun ishment have yet to be deter mined. These are two of the most prominent suspensions in track and field, following Ben Johnson at the 1988 Olympics, Butch Reynolds in 1990 and Mary Slaney in 1997. Johnson is banned for life. Reynolds served his suspension and is now competing. Slaney was cleared and is also running again. IAAF spokesman Giorgio Reneiri said today from Monaco that Barnes and Mitchell tested positive during out-of-competi tion samples. So far, only the A samples have been tested, Reneiri said. Howev er, that is sufficient for the LAAF to levy a suspension. If their B samples are positive, the IAAF will then rule on the severity of the punishment pend ing a hearing by USATF. If the B sample is negative, they are cleared. Barnes could be banned for life because this is his second of fense. He was suspended for two years starting in 1991 for the banned substance methyltestos terone at a meet in Malmo, Swe den, in 1990. This time, the sub stance is androstenedione, a banned nutritional supplement, Reneiri said. Mitchell tested positive for testosterone. If found guilty fol lowing the B sample, he probably would receive a two-year ban. Reneiri did not know the level of testosterone found in Mitchell’s sample. The allowable ratio of testosterone to epitestos terone (another natural sub stance) is 6:1. Anything above that level merits an investigation. Mitchell’s suspension was handed down last week, after he finished fifth in the Goodwill Games 100 and ran the second leg on the winning U.S. 400-meter re lay team at Uniondale. Mitchell was entered in the U.S. Open at Edwardsville, 111., Saturday night, but was a late scratch without explanation by meet organizers. It now turns out, the IAAF would not allow him to compete because of the ban. Reneiri said the IAAF asked Mitchell to “give some medical explanation” for the findings. “A few days ago, the explana tion was received and the doping commission decided to suspend the athlete,” Reneiri said. The five-member commission is headed by Arne Ljungqvist of Sweden and includes vice chair man Frank Greenberg of the Unit ed States. Jill Pilgrim, a lawyer for the US ATF in Indianapolis, could not confirm or deny any of today’s de velopments. Neither Barnes nor Mitchell was immediately available for comment. Barnes, 32, set the world indoor record of 74-4 1/4, at Los Angeles on Jan. 20,1989, and set the world outdoor record of 75-10 1/4 at Westwood, Calif., on May 20, 1990. He also was the Olympic silver medalist in 1988, the world championship silver medalist in 1993 and bronze medalist in 1995, and the U.S. champion in 1989,1993,1996 and 1997. At the 1997 world championships, he failed to qualify for the final, fin ishing 14th. Mitchell, 32, finished fourth in the 1998 and 1996 Olympics, third in the 100 at the 1991 and 1993 world championships, and was a gold medalist on U.S. 400 meter relay teams that took gold medals at the 1992 Olympics and 1993 and 1995 world champi onships. He also ran on four U.S. relay teams that set world records between 1991-93. 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