Posted on: Wednesday, November 17, 2004

Women's Ironman winner disqualified

Associated Press

KAILUA, KONA, Hawai'i — Nina Kraft was disqualified as winner of the 2004 Ironman Triathlon World Championship because of drug use, giving Natascha Badmann her fifth title.

Last week, Kraft admitted taking the performance-enhancing drug EPO in the weeks leading up to the competition in Hawai'i. She now faces a two-year ban. Kraft, who tested positive at the competition, said she took EPO for three weeks leading up to the Oct. 16 event.

EPO, or erythropoietin, stimulates the production of oxygen-rich red blood cells and is a drug of choice in endurance sports.

The World Triathlon Corporation disqualified Kraft on Monday after receiving official confirmation from the German Triathlon Federation that Kraft had admitted using EPO.

The organization said Badmann of Switzerland would take the top prize of $100,000, followed by Heather Fuhr of Canada, who will receive $50,000, and American Kate Major, who will receive $25,000.

Kraft, the third female out of the water, had a strong bike portion and was the first to cross the finish line, in a time of 9 hours, 33 minutes, 25 seconds.