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Baumann plans to run marathon

Former Olympic 5,000 metres champion Dieter Baumann, whose doping case was referred to arbitration by athletics' world governing body last week, said he plans to run the marathon after the Sydney Olympics.

''I have never had so much fun running as at the moment,'' Baumann, who is still hoping to compete in Sydney, told the German magazine Leichtathletik in an interview released on Tuesday.

"That's why I want to run the marathon after the Olympics.''

The 35-year-old German has denied any wrongdoing after testing positive for nandrolone last November. He said his toothpaste was spiked.

Baumann was cleared to run by the German athletics federation last June and now awaits the verdict of the International Amateur Athletic Federation's arbitration panel.

The ruling body's council had recommended the panel meets before the Sydney Games. Baumann, who has been included in the German Olympic team, is free to compete in the meantime.

He said he planned to make his marathon debut in Hamburg next year.

UNI