FLASH! U.S. Swimmer Tests Positive for Steroids, Banned for Four Years

By Phillip Whitten

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., June 24. KICKER Vencill, a member of the United States Pan American Games team, has tested positive for a prohibited steroid and received a four-year ban, beginning January 21, 2003.

After refusing to comment earlier today, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) released an announcement of the decision by a three-member panel of the American Arbitration Association (AAA)/North American Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) finding that Vencill, a member of the Irvine Novaquatics swim team, committed a doping violation.

Vencill, 25, tested positive at an out-of-competition test in Tustin, Calif. on Jan. 21, 2003 for 19-norandrosterone, which is a metabolite of a prohibited anabolic agent under Federation Internationale De Natation (FINA) rules. FINA is the international governing body for swimming. An earlier test in November 2002, as well as a later one in May 2003, were negative.

USADA did not release any information on the actual test results.

Through his coach, David Salo, Vencill said he is innocent of taking any prohibited substance. He said he believes the steroid may have been present in a legal supplement he took. Vencill said he plans to appeal.

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