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Associated Press 19y

Two-year bans reinstated for Fazekas, Annus

BUDAPEST, Hungary -- The two-year doping suspensions given
to discus thrower Robert Fazekas and hammer thrower Adrian Annus
last year were reinstated by the Hungarian Athletics Federation on
Wednesday.

Both won Olympic gold medals in Athens, but lost them after
positive drug tests.

The federation, which first issued the bans last September,
reduced Fazekas' punishment to one year and lifted Annus' ban after
an appeal two months later.

The decision to restore the bans came at the request of track's
world governing body after a ruling last week by the Swiss-based
Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld the IOC's move to strip Annus
and Fazekas of their medals.

The bans started Sept. 7, 2004, HAA president Gusztav Rabold
said.

Fazekas lost his medal for failing to provide a proper
post-competition urine sample, but plans on competing again when
the suspension ends. Annus passed two doping tests in Athens, but
his medal was taken away after he failed to show up for another
test after returning to Hungary. He said he was unsure whether he
would compete again.

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