Mitchell to appeal ban

New York, Aug 25: Dennis Mitchell, a bronze medal winner at 100 yards in the 1992 Olympics, will appeal his two-year drug suspension at a...

New York, Aug 25: Dennis Mitchell, a bronze medal winner at 100 yards in the 1992 Olympics, will appeal his two-year drug suspension at a hearing before the USA Track amp; Field Doping Hearing Board in October, he has said.

8220;This is the blackest mark that any athlete can have on their record,8221; Mitchell said of the suspension handed down this month by the International Athletic Amateur Federation IAAF for testing positive for testosterone.

8220;The things that have happened to me in the last few month will forever affect all parts of my life. This can never be taken away,8221; said Mitchell at a news conference flanked by his lawyer Suja Thomas at her office yesterday.

Mitchell, 32, was given a two-year suspension by the IAAF this month for testing positive for testosterone at an out-of-competition test April 1 at his home in Gainesville, Florida.

Thomas said Mitchell will contest the validity of the test on two grounds.

8220;Experts will look at whether or not the test itself was correct,8221; Thomas said of the two urine samples. 8220;And two if the test was correct what could have caused the testosterone to epitestosterone another natural substance level to increase above the allowable ratio of 6:1.8221;

The three-member doping hearing board can vote by a simple majority that Mitchell is not guilty and he would be free to resume competing again.

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Right now Mitchell says he is finding it hard simply running again.

8220;When this first started I was still going out to the track every day and working hard and hoping that this thing was a big dream,8221; Mitchell said.

8220;But now it has become this nightmare. It is now even hard for me to go out and actually train hard because this is always in the back of my mind. I don8217;t feel that purity that track and field used to bring to me anymore,8221; said Mitchell, who last competed as part of the winning US 400m relay team at last month8217;s Goodwill Games.

As the president of the USATF8217;s athletes advisory committee, the athletes8217; voice in the national governing body, Mitchell has been an leading advocate in getting drugs out of his sport.

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His current situation goes against all that he has stood for he said.

8220;My dedication to this sport and to society would not and could not allow me to do such a thing,8221; said Mitchell.

8220;This is both morally and ethically unacceptable to me. I have throughout my career thought that the only way to succeed was through hard work and dedication to yourself and God. I would have never in my wildest dreams thought this would happen to me.8221;