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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 7:04 a.m., Monday, January 12, 2009

Obituary: Star German runner found dead at 26

Associated Press

DRESDEN, Germany — Rene Herms, a six-time German champion runner who reached the 800-meter semifinals of the 2004 Olympics, has died. He was 26.

Herms was found dead Saturday morning in his apartment in the eastern town of Lohmen. Police said there were no indications of foul play or suicide. His apartment is to be searched again.

The runner reportedly had the flu over the New Year's holidays but trained as recently as Friday.

Authorities said there will be an autopsy within a few days, and chief prosecutor Christian Avenarius said Monday he expects the results "fairly quickly." Herms' wife, Steffi, had refused to allow an autopsy, but Avenarius said her permission was not required.