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 & Field Doping Hearing Board in October, he said yesterday.
"This is the blackest mark that any athlete can have on their record," Mitchell said of the suspension handed down this month by the International Athletic Amateur Federation (IAAF) for testing positive for testosterone.
"The things that have happened to me in the last few months will forever affect all parts of my life. This can never be taken away," he added. Mitchell, 32, was given a two-year suspension by the IAAF for testing positive for testosterone at an out-of-competition test on April 1st at his home in Gainesville, Florida.
Thomas said that Mitchell will contest the validity of the test on two grounds.
"Experts will look at whether or not the test itself was correct," Thomas said of the two urine samples. "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)?"
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.
