Owen Ansah dashes to third straight 100m title in 10.00s as NADA doping proceedings hang over German Championships

Ansah’s defiant sprint

Owen Ansah left no doubt who is Germany’s fastest man. The 25-year-old from Hamburger SV powered to a 10.00‑second victory in the men’s 100 metres at the German Athletics Championships in Bochum on Saturday, only two hundredths outside the national record he set in June. Second place went to Heiko Gussmann in 10.06 seconds. The 14,000 spectators at the renovated Lohrheidestadion in Wattenscheid cheered loudly and there were no signs of the hostility some had warned could follow a doping controversy.

If I go on the track, my thoughts are completely free. I notice nothing, and that worked today too.

Ansah had entered the meeting under intense scrutiny. Frank Busemann, the former decathlete and ARD pundit, had predicted that the shadow of a doping investigation would cost him two tenths of a second. The prediction proved wrong. Ansah instead delivered his third consecutive national crown and later told ZDF: “I wanted to show everyone that I am the fastest German. I wanted to put on a show, and I did.” His trainer, management, federation and lawyer were all supporting him, he said, enabling performances like this one.

The doping case

The NADA proceedings stem from an incident on 9 July. Ansah was preparing to leave for the Diamond League meeting in Monaco when a doping control officer arrived outside the athlete’s designated testing window and requested a sample. Ansah said he was already late, had just used the toilet, and could not provide a sample at short notice. He departed for Monaco and competed the following day, where he was tested again. No positive test result has been reported.

The German athletics federation (DLV) released a statement relaying Ansah’s account; his lawyer said he intends to make a comprehensive submission to NADA. Because the case involves a refusal (not a positive finding) Ansah is not provisionally suspended and remains eligible to race. A final decision is unlikely before the European Championships, which begin in Birmingham on 10 August. If found to have violated anti-doping rules he could face a multi-year ban.

Weber ties Wolfermann’s javelin record

Julian Weber claimed his sixth consecutive German javelin title with a best of 82.60 metres, taking only four attempts. The 31-year-old from Mainz equalled the record of Klaus Wolfermann, who won six successive West German championships between 1969 and 1974 and had been Olympic champion in Munich 1972. Weber, a former European champion, only recently returned to competition after health setbacks and is targeting the European Championships next month. Rio 2016 Olympic gold medallist Thomas Röhler finished fourth.

Lückenkemper’s tick-bite setback, Ernst takes women’s crown

Gina Lückenkemper, the former European 100 m champion, failed to add a seventh domestic title and took bronze in 11.29 seconds after a freak injury. A tick bite on the back of her head weeks earlier had disrupted her training.

It really destroyed me.

Visibly emotional and close to tears, Lückenkemper said she had considered withdrawing from the championships and was ultimately happy with the bronze. The women’s final was won by Jolina Ernst in 11.26 seconds, with Emma Goretzka clocking the same time and losing by a few thousandths of a second.