DENVER, Dec 15: The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency suffered its first-ever defeat in a case brought to arbitration late Friday when a three-person arbitration panel ruled in favor of sprinter LaTasha Jenkins, who had been sanctioned for using the anabolic steroid nandralone.

It was the first of 37 cases the seven-year-old agency has lost since it started prosecuting American athletes for doping violations. Jenkins, a 2001 World Championships medalist, now has the option of resuming her effort to try for the 2008 U.S. Olympic team.

The arbitration panel ruled the results of Jenkins’ positive doping test from an athletics meet in Belgium last year were compromised because both European labs testing her sample violated international standards that require the tests be run by two different technicians.

“It’s a good day for athletes,” said Michael Straubel, a Valparaiso University Law School professor who worked for free for Jenkins, along with four Valpo law students. “The panel acknowledged that an allegation of doping is a serious matter which profoundly affects an athlete, and laboratories therefore must ensure the highest scientific reliability of the testing process.”

Jenkins had been coached by Trevor Graham, who is charged with three felony counts of making false statements to U.S. government investigators. The government has accused him of lying in 2004 when he denied distributing steroids or telling his athletes where they could get them. His trial is pending.

Friday’s decision was similar to one in favor of Spanish cyclist Inigo Landaluce last year. The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled the lab that tested his sample violated testing standards. That case was not prosecuted by USADA.—AP