Baumann fails to complete Hamburg marathon

Former Olympic 5,000 metres champion Dieter Baumann failed to complete the Hamburg marathon today in the race that marked his…

Former Olympic 5,000 metres champion Dieter Baumann failed to complete the Hamburg marathon today in the race that marked his return to the sport after a two-year doping ban.

Baumann, 39, the 1992 Barcelona gold medallist, dropped out after 36 kms of the 42.195 kms event.

"I was simply too worn out. Nothing was working anymore. I was probably lacking preparation at that speed," he said.

Kenya's Christopher Kandie won the race in two hours 10 minutes and 16 seconds, ahead of Ethiopian Hailu Neguse on 2:10.24 and Kenya's Maiki Saina on 2:10.41.

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Germany's Sonja Oberem successfully defended her title in the women's race with a time of 2:26.20.

In January, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) lifted a 12-month extension to the ban which had been imposed after Baumann ran in the German indoor championships last year.

Baumann was initially banned after positive tests for the anabolic steroid nandrolone in October and November of 1999. He has denied knowingly taking nandrolone and argued that his toothpaste was spiked with the drug.

This month, a court in Baumann's home state of Baden-Wuerttemberg rejected his bid to have the ban declared void and to receive compensation.

Baumann hopes to run the 5,000 and 10,000 metres in the European championships in August. "I still have a good foundation and I'm optimistic for the future," he said.