NADA recommends four-year ban for Ansah over anti-doping violation

Germany's National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has recommended a four-year suspension for German top sprinter Owen Ansah over a possible anti-doping violation, it said in a statement on Friday.

Ansah, the German record holder in the 100 metres, is part of Germany's squad for the European athletics championships in Birmingham, but is being investigated for refusing to undergo a doping test.

From NADA's perspective, Ansah violated the German Athletics Association's (DLV) anti-doping Code.

In a statement to the DLV, Ansah said he was about to travel to the Golden League meet in Monaco on July 9 when the drug tester arrived outside of the testing time frame he had given. He said he was running very late and couldn't provide a sample at such short notice, having also just been to the toilet.

He added that he was tested by the World Anti-Doping Agency the next day, competition day July 10, in Monaco, and again on Monday by NADA.

NADA explained that, should its proposal be accepted, the suspension would automatically be reduced to three years. Accordingly, the ban would not begin until the date of the relevant final decision by NADA or a disciplinary body, or until the date on which the proposed suspension was accepted.

Ansah now has 20 days to either accept NADA's findings or request that disciplinary proceedings be initiated at the German Sports Arbitration Court.

His lawyer, Rainer Tarek Cherkeh, stated, however, that Ansah will not accept the NADA's proposal.

"Our client, Owen Ansah, has at no time refused to undergo a doping test. He has at no time refused to provide a sample. Owen Ansah has at no time said or given the impression that he did not want to undergo a doping test," he said.

Ansah is expected to compete in the 100- and 200-metre individual events at the European athletics championships from August 10 to 16.

The NADA also recommended that all results from July 9 onward should be annulled until the start of a provisional suspension or a ban.

This would mean that Ansah would lose his two German championship titles in the 100- and 200-metre events, which he won in Bochum at the end of July.