Runner's & Triathlete's Web Triathlon: Ironman Germany Corrects 2004 Race Results

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Posted: February 1, 2005

Triathlon: Ironman Germany Corrects 2004 Race Results

The following media release was received from Ironman Germany organizers today:

February 1st, 2005

Result list of the 3rd Opel IRONMAN GERMANY Triathlon, powered by Duracell - from July 11th, 2004 corrected.

Due to the court decision and confirmation of the German Triathlon Federation (DTU) from January 29th, 2005 Katja Schumacher will stay banned for competing in triathlon and duathlon events until June 1st, 2005. After having confirmed and corrected the ban for a doping offense the results of the women's race on July 11th, 2004 are announced as followed:

1.	Nina Kraft (GER)
2.	Nina Fischer (GER)
3.	Imke Schiersch (GER)
4.	Silke Hamacher (GER)
5.	Inge Löhle (GER).

With the final decision in this case Katja Schumacher will not be allowed to race at the Opel IRONMAN GERMANY in the future.

Regarding Katja Schumacher's accusation of a possible manipulation of her own special needs in the 2004 race we as the organizers give the following statement:

1. Special Needs are extra voluntary service by the organisation and is in the complete own response of the athlete.
2. This service is conducted by long-term experienced and reliable volunteers (in fact in the year 2004 this position was managed and controlled by policemen in private duty).
3. There's no proof that Katja Schumacher used in 2004 the special needs service in our race.
4. The accusation by Katja Schumacher is a disregard of the honour of all our volunteers and is not proven in any case. We can't accept her behaviour and unfair attack against our volunteers.

Source: Opel IRONMAN GERMANY Triathlon.
Other recent media coverage including an interview with Ms. Schumacher by Triathlete Magazine ("Schumacher begins to move forward") and a story in XTri.com ("Schumacher Drug Case Settled"), give a different perspective.
This evening, Triathlete Magazine carried a follow-up story commenting on the Ironman Germany press release stating in part that: "Despite the allegations and counter-allegations being levelled by the competing factions in the dispute and the increasingly acrimonious tone of the discourse, it’s clear that Schumacher will face an uphill struggle if she hopes to convince all parties that she did not intentionally ingest a banned substance."
The Runner's Web has received several emails from German addresses stating that the IM Germany release is incorrect and that "Papers will be filed in court tomorrow in Germany USA/Canada by Thursday latest.".
We also received an email from "Katja Schumacher" stating that "I will sue the organizer.." and asking us to take down the press release. We have asked for her comments on the press release.
The Runner's Web wishes to make it clear that the release above is from the Ironman Germany race director. We have asked him for clarification and comments.
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