World steeplechase record holder Brahim Boulami waits anxiously this week to learn whether or not he faces a two-year drugs ban after a prolonged and agonising drama.
The sport's world governing body, the International Association of Athletics Federations is expected to announce its ruling some time in the next few days.
Boulami, 30, smashed his own mark of seven minutes 55.28 seconds set in Brussels in 2001 when he clocked an astonishing 7:53.17 on August 16 in Zurich last year.
But blood and urine tests taken the previous day showed traces of the banned stamina-boosting substance erythropoietine (EPO) in the athlete's body.
"They said I would be informed of the result in four days. At midnight the day after, I received a call from Morocco saying I had tested positive for EPO. I was shocked," Boulami said in an interview with Reuters.
Boulami asked for the B sample to be tested in order to confirm the first result.
In September, he went to Lausanne with an expert from the IAAF and one from the Royal Moroccan Federation (FRMA) to take the second test, which also proved positive.
Since then, Boulami said, he had heard nothing from the IAAF and knew nothing about his situation.
"I don't even know if I'm suspended," he said. "I've been heard three or four times by the FRMA and no conclusion has been drawn yet."
The case was eventually sent back to the IAAF.
SCIENTIFIC EXPERT
"The Moroccan expert (Dr Abdelhamid Stambouli) was sent off by the director of the laboratory of Lausanne, Dr Sauger," Boulami recounted. "He said to him: 'Your presence is not appreciated here'."
The rules authorised the presence of a representative of the relevant national federation, the FRMA said in a statement.
"We are asking the IAAF to rule on this question," it said.
"The FRMA disciplinary commission don't have all the elements in hand to take a stand on this case and recommend that it is examined by the IAAF expert arbitration commission."
IAAF spokesman Nick Davies said Boulami had been present at the B sample test together with his scientific expert.
"The whole disciplinary process cannot be cancelled simply because another expert, Dr Stambouli, was not present," he said.
Davies added the IAAF had written to the FRMA to ask them for one last time to rule on the matter because it was their obligation to take a decision.
He said the case would be considered by the IAAF's doping review board who could then refer it to the independent Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Boulami believes there might have been a mistake in the proceedings and hopes he can still take part in the Paris world championships in August. He also said the IAAF had to take a decision within three months after the test, which had not been done.
But the IAAF reminded that under the "21.1 rule (...) the hearing should take place as soon as possible and, under normal circumstances, not later than three months after the final laboratory analysis."
LAWYER PREPARED
"The question of the delays in this case is likely to be raised at the next meeting of the IAAF Council in April," Davies said.
Boulami said the decision of the FRMA was good for him.
"There is no real possibility to appeal in Morocco. There is actually no court for these cases," he explained.
Boulami added he was ready to face a commission set up by the IAAF or by the CAS.
"I am ready. I have a lawyer I've been working with for months on the matter. I will take them (the IAAF) to court if they decide on a ban," he said.
The athlete from Safi said he was back in training with hopes of competing in Paris.
"I need to resume competition in May or June at the latest if I want to be ready for the world championships", he said.
Boulami said he had been training alone for six years.
"I haven't had a trainer since 1997. I train in high altitude in Ifrane with national level athletes who run the 3,000 and the 5,000 metres."
If Boulami is banned, as appears likely, he still intends to compete in next year's Athens Olympics. A ban from August 15 last year would end just in time for him -- the Games open on August 13 2004 but the athletics events do not begin until a week later.
"I will fight to the end to show that Brahim Boulami is the world steeplechase record holder and is also about to become an Olympic champion," he said.
