IAAF asked to pay Krabbe compensation

MUNICH, JUNE 28. A German court on Wednesday ordered the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) to pay disgraced former German sprint queen Katrin Krabbe around $663,000 compensation for increasing her drug ban.

The Munich Court of First Instance said the world athletics governing body had acted unlawfully when it slapped Krabbe with a two-year ban after she tested positive for the banned drug Clembuterol in 1992.

The 1991 women's World champion over 100m and 200m had already been given a one-year ban by the German Athletics Federation.

In Wednesday's ruling the court said IAAF should pay compensation with interest for loss of earnings suffered by Krabbe, deeming IAAF's two-year ban excessive.

The IAAF general secretary, Mr. Istvan Gyulai, said the organisation had not yet been officially informed of the Munich court's decision.

``It's a bit of a surprise,'' the Hungarian said. ``At the time we thought suspending the athlete was the correct decision to fit the framework of the anti-doping fight we were leading,'' he stated.

Mr. Gyulai added that IAAF would need to examine the details of the ruling before considering any appeal against it. The case followed a hearing in Munich's Court of Appeal in 1998 which paved the way for Krabbe's action for seeking compensation for lost earnings with interest.

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Section  : Sport
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