The Dominican Olympic Committee and the Dominican Federation of Track and Field are standing behind high jumper Juana Rosario Arrendel, the Dominican star track and field contender who jumped 1.93 meters in the Pan Am Games, only to fail the doping test, and be stripped of the gold medal. Earlier, Arrendel had jumped 1.91 meters to win the gold medal in the Central American and Caribbean Games held in Venezuela. That mark would have been sufficient to win the Pan Am Games gold medal. The president of the Dominican Olympic Committee, neurosurgeon José Joaquín Puello said in a press conference that the amount of the anabolic steroid stanzolol found in her blood was minimal and had no effect on her performance. They expect a penalty of six months to a year will be imposed. He also announced he is recommending that the Dominican government send her to train in Poland, from where the best high jumpers are coming from at present. The 20-year old 6’3 inches tall is a natural athlete and Puello says she still has at least seven more years left to her career as one of the world’s top notch high jump athletes. Juana Arrendel says she is innocent and will accept her misfortune as a challenge. She says she will work to make a comeback. "Even if it’s the last thing I do, I will come back and meet my objective to be a world champion, regardless of the suspension I get," she said holding in her tears. Dr. Puello described Juana Arrendel as a model athlete. She is an example for others in her sports life, family and personal life, said Puello. He said an investigation is being carried out to determine how she received the steroid. Arrendel has received the support of sports entities and public figures in the DR that encourage her to make a comeback. Arrendel’s gold medal was the only one won by the DR in the Pan Am Games. The DR delegation has done poorly, only winning a silver and three bronze medals.
