Posted: April 14, 2006

Athletics: Dengersa Receives Two-Year Doping Ban

From David Monti

© 2006 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

By Bob Ramsak

Tezeta Dengersa of Turkey, the surprise silver medallist in the 3000 meters at the 2005 European Indoor Championships, received a two-year doping ban after testing positive for the anabolic agent metenolone, the IAAF announced on the Anti-Doping section of its website.

Dengersa, 26, tested positive for the banned substance after the 3000 meter race in Madrid, where she clocked a national record 8:46.65, bettering her previous personal best by more than 14 seconds. Her period of ineligibility began on May 12, 2005, while all her results from March 6, 2005, the date of the 3000 meter final, will be nullified.

With her disqualification, Susanne Pumper of Austria, who ran 8:47.74, will move up to the runner-up position while Germany's Sabrina Mockenhaupt becomes the bronze medallist.

Dengersa, who won the 1999 European junior title at 5000 meters, hasn't raced since last year's European Indoor Championships.

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