Polish Group Admits Runner Given Steroid

A Polish athletic federation has admitted that Antoni Niemczak, national marathon champion, was given an anabolic steroid to relieve pain after dental surgery last October, Fred Lebow, New York Marathon director, said Thursday.

Lebow said officials of the Polish Light Athletic Federation had wired him that Niemczak had received an injection of Nandrolin and Madroxin after a complicated tooth extraction.

Niemczak, a teacher from Wroclaw, has admitted he received the shots but has repeatedly said he does not take steroids, synthetic derivatives of the male hormone testosterone.

Nandrolin is an anabolic steroid commonly used in treatment of anemia and renal insufficiency. Madroxin is not listed in the Physicians’ Desk Reference, a doctor’s guide to pharmacology.

Niemczak was banned by the International Amateur Athletic Federation last week after testing positive for steroids. The test was administered after the Polish runner had finished second in the New York Marathon last month.

Niemczak is in Honolulu, where he wants to run in Sunday’s Honolulu Marathon. But Pete Cava of The Athletics Congress said Niemczak will not be allowed to enter the race.

Niemczak had dental X-rays taken in Honolulu that, Lebow said, did not show recent evidence of oral surgery.

“Somebody’s lying,” Lebow said.

Niemczak was not available for comment.