Polish marathon runner Antoni Niemczak said he...

Polish marathon runner Antoni Niemczak said he plans to appeal a suspension imposed by the International Amateur Athletic Federation after he twice tested positive for steroids.

Niemczak finished second in the New York City Marathon Nov. 2 but was disqualified when his urinalysis showed traces of anabolic steroids. The Pole said he had received a shot of Nandrolin, a steroid, after having a tooth extracted Oct. 8 in Warsaw. The drug promotes healing after oral surgery.

Under the guidelines of the IAAF, a positive drug test automatically results in a lifetime ban, but the federation has allowed athletes to return after only 18 months.