on 19 october 1999 baumann tested positive for nandrolone and received a two-year suspension, thus missing the 2000 summer olympics. the exact circumstances of this episode remain unclear. baumann was voluntarily tested after the initial results by an independent institute. extremely high levels of nandrolone continued to be found in the tests and the results of the tests fluctuated dramatically depending on which time of day baumann was tested. after several weeks of voluntary tests, baumann claimed that the results varied with the time of day because the nandrolone was in his toothpaste. the german athletics federation (dlv) reluctantly believed baumann that someone had manipulated his toothpaste and allowed him to start at the german championships where baumann qualified for the olympic games in sydney. however, the iaaf did not agree with that verdict and imposed a ban. baumann tried to sue the iaaf before a german court but was unsuccessful. those defending baumann have pointed to the fact that the levels of nandrolone found in his body were completely abnormal for any athlete wishing to enhance his performance. baumann's opponents argued that he had no conclusive proof for his version of the story and could not name a suspect. according to doping expert wilhelm schänzer the banned substance went into his involuntary. he further concluded that in former east germany, athletes were attacked with these substances, it was an attack on him.