Astrid Strauss

The German Swimming Federation has threatened to sue the sport's world governing body unless it lifts an 18-month ban imposed on a German swimmer accused of doping. The International Swimming Federation (FINA) imposed the ban on 1988 Olympic silver medalist Astrid Strauss, although she had already served a six-month suspension given by the German federation.

The German Swimming Federation has threatened to sue the sport's world governing body unless it lifts an 18-month ban imposed on a German swimmer accused of doping. The International Swimming Federation (FINA) imposed the ban on 1988 Olympic silver medalist Astrid Strauss, although she had already served a six-month suspension given by the German federation.

German swimmer Astrid Strauss, a silver medalist at the 1988 Olympics, was banned from competition for six months because of a doping scandal. The action was announced by the German Swimming Federation during the national championships in Munich, where she was competing. The ban is valid until Nov. 29. A drug test conducted at the end of March revealed unusually high levels of testosterone in the swimmer's body. A second test confirmed the first result.

German swimmer Astrid Strauss, a silver medalist at the 1988 Olympics, was banned from competition for six months because of a doping scandal. The action was announced by the German Swimming Federation during the national championships in Munich, where she was competing. The ban is valid until Nov. 29. A drug test conducted at the end of March revealed unusually high levels of testosterone in the swimmer's body. A second test confirmed the first result.

A court in Magdeburg, Germany, ruled that German swimmer Astrid Strauss can make a bid for another berth on the Olympic team while she is under investigation for possible drug use. The court ordered the German Swimming Federation to allow the Olympic silver medalist to compete at the national championships or face a fine. Strauss, second-place finisher in the 800-meter freestyle at the 1988 Games, was suspended last week until the completion of an investigation by the swimming federation.

Olympic champion Michael Gross took the gold medal for West Germany in the 200-meter freestyle, but it was East Germany's women who dominated the second day of the European Swimming Championship Tuesday, winning three events. They threatened their own world record in the 800-meter freestyle relay and also won the 400-meter medley and the 100-meter freestyle. Gross defended his European championship title, covering the distance in 1 minute 47.95 seconds--0.

Stefan Caron of France won the men's 100-meter freestyle at the European Swimming and Diving Championships Thursday, the first gold medal for France in this event since 1970. Meanwhile, East Germany continued to dominate, winning four of six events and finishing second in two. Caron, 18, won in 50.20 seconds, beating 1980 world and Olympic champion Joerg Woithe of East Germany, who finished in 50.38.

Janet Evans won the 800-meter freestyle Tuesday night at the U.S. Swimming Open and set her third meet record. The 5-foot 4-inch Evans broke away from the field at the 300-meter mark and won in a time of 8 minutes 24.71 seconds. The time shattered the meet record of 8:32.70 held by East Germany's Astrid Strauss. "I would have liked it if somebody had been up there with me," Evans said. "It's been so long since I swam against somebody side-by-side, I don't know what it feels like."

Matt Biondi, the world's fastest swimmer, managed only third place in the first-ever 50-meter freestyle final at the World Swimming Championships Friday, but fellow American Tom Jager took the gold. West German Michael Gross failed in a bid to lower his world record while retaining his 200-meter butterfly title. But East German Kristin Otto added the 200-meter individual medley gold to the 100-meter freestyle title she won earlier in the meet.

A court in Magdeburg, Germany, ruled that German swimmer Astrid Strauss can make a bid for another berth on the Olympic team while she is under investigation for possible drug use. The court ordered the German Swimming Federation to allow the Olympic silver medalist to compete at the national championships or face a fine. Strauss, second-place finisher in the 800-meter freestyle at the 1988 Games, was suspended last week until the completion of an investigation by the swimming federation.

Janet Evans extended her streak to 21 victories Saturday by winning the 400-meter freestyle for her third gold medal in the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships at Tokyo. Evans, a triple gold-medalist in the Seoul Olympics, quickly took the lead and won in 4 minutes 4.53 seconds, shattering her meet record of 4:09.32 set in 1987. She holds the world record of 4:03.85. On Sunday, American Mike Barrowman broke the world record for the 200-meter breaststroke in a qualifying heat.

English swimmer Sarah Hardcastle came within a fraction of a second Tuesday of breaking Tracey Wickham's world 800-meter freestyle record during competition on the sixth day of the Commonwealth Games. The 17-year-old Hardcastle won her second gold medal of the games as she set a European record of 8 minutes 24.77 seconds, the second-best time ever recorded and just .15 of a second outside the Australian's 8-year-old mark.