The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Chicago

American sprinter LaTasha Jenkins has successfully won her appeal of a doping charge after a pair of slip-ups by two different European testing labs.

In July 2006, Jenkins, who is believed to be the first to win an appeal against the US Anti-Doping Agency, tested positive for the steroid nandrolone.

A three-member arbitration panel ruled in her favour after she complained that labs in Belgium and Germany did not follow proper World Anti-Doping Agency procedures during the handling of her samples, the Chicago Tribune reported on Saturday.

The panel ruled that both labs erred by not using two different technicians to the run the tests.

Jenkins, 29, was awarded the bronze medal in the 200 metres at the 2001 World Championships when her American teammate and third-place finisher Kelli White was disqualified after revealling she used performance-enhancing drugs.

This is believed to be the first time an American athlete has won an appeal of a USADA doping charge, the newspaper said.