IAAF may ban C J Hunter over doping

World shot put champion C.J. Hunter, who tested positive four times for the anabolic steroid nandrolone last year, may be banned directly by the international governing body.

International Amateur Athletic Federation vice-president Arne Ljungqvist said on Thursday the federation was "very concerned" that no action had been taken by the U.S. governing body.

Doping cases are normally considered first by national federations but Hunter, the husband of triple Olympic gold medallist Marion Jones, has not been suspended by USA Track & Field and no date has been set for a hearing.

"We are very concerned because no decision has been made and no action has been taken by the American governing body," Ljungqvist said by telephone from the IAAF's headquarters in Monaco.

"It has taken a long time. In my mind a decision should have been taken already. We can't let this go on for much longer, that's for sure. We will follow this up and we will do it ourselves."

Ljungqvist is chairman of the IAAF medical commission which is scheduled to meet in Monaco this Saturday.

If the commission does recommend a two-year suspension for Hunter, who has now retired, the decision will be considered by the IAAF's ruling council in Lisbon in March who can then decide to ban the 31-year-old American.

In December, Hunter said he was "unbelievably confident" he would be cleared of charges against him.

He added that he would be represented by O.J. Simpson's attorney Johnnie Cochran.