Katrin Krabbe, the world champion German sprinter cleared on a technicality six weeks ago of doping charges, confessed Friday she had used forbidden drugs.
Ruediger Nickel, the German Light Athletics Federation official heading the fight against drugs, said Krabbe and two other top runners from eastern Germany admitted they took a drug with the trade name Spiropent, which contains the anabolic drug Clenbuterol.The contrast of Krabbe's girlish face and powerful build has aroused speculation that she took drugs ever since she won two women's golds at the world track and field championships in Tokyo last year.
She was accused of tampering with a urine sample in January, but has always denied this. However a July urine sample from Krabbe and Grit Breuer gave positive evidence of drug use.
Nickel said both admitted to the federation in the new case that they had taken the drug, as had a third woman, Manuela Derr, though they claimed they did not know Spiropent was outlawed. All three can expect a ban that will end their careers.
Their trainer, Thomas Springstein, admitted Thursday he had obtained the drug for the women on the black market. Clenbuterol is a prescription drug used in treating asthma and bronchitis. In greater dosages it can help to build up muscle tissue.
Krabbe, Breuer and another athlete, Silke Moeller, were cleared June 28 by an International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) arbitration panel of the earlier doping charges, but declined to compete in the Barcelona Olympics saying they were not fit enough.