IAAF steps back in row over C J Hunter's doping case

Track and field's governing body backed off threats of suspending C J Hunter but pressed US officials to take action soon in shot putter's doping case.

The anti-doping commission of the International Amateur Athletic Federation yesterday discussed the lack of action so far regarding Hunter, the 1999 world shot put champion.

Hunter, husband of triple Olympic champion Marion Jones, tested positive four times last summer for the steroid nandrolone. The scandal broke during the Sydney Olympics.

Hunter has not been suspended by USA Track & Field and no hearing date has been set.

Arne Ljungqvist, head of the IAAF doping panel, suggested this week that the world body could step in and impose ban.

But after yesterday's meeting, IAAF general secretary Istvan Gyulai said the panel made no such recommendation.

"The commission only said that in accordance with the existing guidelines and rules, USATF has to continue with the disciplinary procedure," he said. "The IAAF is not stepping in. They (USATF will be notified that we still expect they will finalise the case. We believe this should have been dealt with earlier."

It's up to the national federation to hold a hearing and decide on any disciplinary action, Gyulai said. The IAAF can then either accept or reject the decision.

Hunter announced his retirement in Sydney.

"There is no imminent problem," Gyulai said. "The athlete is not competing. He cannot compete."

Gyulai said the IAAF was notified two weeks ago of a request for the backup B samples from three of Hunter's urine tests to be analysed. Both A and B samples were positive in the other case, he said.

Gyulai said the three other tests are irrelevant, but the IAAF will carry out the analysis anyway.

"Even if the B sample of the three others is negative, it would not invalidate the findings of the first," he said.

Gyulai said the IAAF and USATF should calm their war of words.

"The air of hostility should be dissipated," he said. "We should have a common understanding that homogeneous rules must apply for all the federations. It's not possible that some athletes are governed by different rules."