IAAF to Study Drug Tests of Randy Barnes

International track and field’s full doping commission will study the drug tests of shot put world record-holder Randy Barnes. The review was described by one official as “an added step” in the testing process.

Officials said today that the International Amateur Athletic Federation’s five-member anti-doping panel will discuss the findings of Barnes’ test over the next few days.

A decision is expected to be announced by next Monday, Bryan Wotton, the IAAF’s doping control commission officer, said.

He would not explain why the full commission is reviewing the case except to say that more study of the circumstances is needed.

“It’s not an unusual circumstance, it’s an added step,” Wotton said. He could not say how many times such additional review has been used in the tests the IAAF oversees.

Barnes was tested after a meet at Malmo, Sweden, this summer. His urine sample was split into two parts and sent for tests.

A French sports newspaper, L’Equipe, reported that the first part of the sample had shown positive for an undisclosed banned substance. Under the doping rules of the IAAF, an athlete is not considered to have tested positive for drugs unless both parts of his or her urine sample fail.