South Jersey Track:
Board Clears Mitchell Of Doping Violation

Tuesday, December 15, 1998

Press Release
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

New York City - On Monday, December 14, 1998, after a two day hearing on December 12 and 13, a three-member panel of the USA Track & Field Doping Hearing Board unanimously decided that three-time Olympic track star Dennis Mitchell did not commit a doping violation in April.

Mr. Mitchell was suspended by the International Amateur Athletic Federation in July after the IAFF concluded that a urine sample provided by Mr. Mitchell in an out-of-competition test in April had an elevated testosterone/epitestosterone level and an increased concentration of testosterone.

Mr. Mitchell is happy with the decision and is looking forward to putting the events of the last six months behind him. Mr. Mitchell has always taken a stance against the use of drugs in sport and in society and will continue to participate in the fight against the use of drugs.

Mr. Mitchell has enjoyed a distinguished 11 year career, including, in the 1992 Olympics, a world record as a member of the gold medal 4x100 meter relay team and a bronze medal in the 100 meters. At the Goodwill Games in July, he was a member of the United States' first place 4x100 meter relay team.

Off the track, Mr. Mitchell served as the most prolific leader of track & field athletes in U.S. history through his Chairmanship of the Athletes Advisory Committee of USA Track & Field from December 1996 through December 1998. Mr. Mitchell will continue in a leadership role in the future.

Mr. Mitchell thanks the University of Florida and the residents of his two hometowns of Sicklerville, New Jersey, where he grew up, and Gainesville, Florida, where he currently resides, for their support. Mr. Mitchell also thanks his teammates for their unconditional love and gives special thanks to his family for their strength through this process. Finally, he thanks God for His continued blessing through his life.

The decision of the Doping Hearing Board panel has been forwarded to the IAFF.

Mr. Mitchell is a graduate of Edgewood High School in Atco, New Jersey.

For more information, contact Suja Thomas, Esq. (212) 310-8212 of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP