DORTMUND, Germany, November 19. ACCORDING to various reports out of Germany, Sonja Schober is under investigation for a positive test for abnormal levels of testosterone.
German Swimming Federation president Christa Thiel has confirmed that an investigation is underway, but would not reveal details of the name of the swimmer. Thiel also has stated that the test does not necessarily mean that a doping violation occurred.
Schober, however, has been quoted in various German reports stating that the test occurred on Aug. 26 of this summer in a home visit where she provided blood and urine samples. Nine weeks later, the swimmer drew an initial suspension for an elevated testosterone level.
Schober and her representatives have explained that Schober has medically documented abnormal levels of hormones at least since she was 14 years old, and that her recent positive test might have been due to a recent weight loss. She also has claimed that there might have been a case of a contaminated supplement.
Schober was unable to compete at the Berlin stop of the FINA World Cup circuit due to the investigation, and she could miss the German national championships held later this month.
Media reports used in this article.
USA Today