By ERICA BULMAN -- Associated Press
 LAUSANNE, Switzerland -- After an easy victory in his first competition since a one-year drug suspension, Cuban high jumper Javier Sotomayor is thinking about Olympic gold.

 After dominating a mediocre field at the low-key International Track Meet of Montauban on Tuesday -- winning at 7 feet, 5 3/4 inches -- the Cuban world record holder was already looking ahead to bigger and better things.

 "The dream of course would be the Olympic title," said Sotomayor, who holds the world mark of 8-01/2. "Montauban is like a preparation test. I know I can do well in Sydney. But whatever the color, if I get a medal in Sydney, it would prove I'd come back to my highest level."

 But what Sotomayor truly hopes is that the Olympics will serve to improve his image.

 "I had two goals. The first to participate in Sydney, and now that's assured," said Sotomayor, who had his two-year-ban for a positive cocaine test reduced to one earlier this month, making him eligible for Sydney. "The second was to clear my image, even if the decision of the IAAF council did not erase the sanction completely. Maybe I can do that in Sydney.

 "We'll see in Sydney what I can do for my image."

 A two-time world champion and the 1992 Olympic champion, Sotomayor was stripped of his gold medal in the high jump at the Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Canada, in July 1999, after testing positive for cocaine.

 Last June, a three-person International Amateur Athletic Federation arbitration panel overturned a ruling by the Cuban Athletics Federation that let Sotomayor continue competing domestically and in other non-sanctioned meets, and banned him for two years.

 But earlier this month, the IAAF cut Sotomayor's drug suspension, citing "exceptional circumstances" and an exemplary 15-year career.

 But the IAAF refused to clear his name completely.

 Sotomayor maintains he never took the drug, and Fidel Castro and Cuban sports officials have staunchly supported him.

 But despite the reduced sentence, claims that Sotomayor tested positive in more recent controls have continued to haunt the Cuban.

 Less than two weeks ago, IAAF vice president Arne Ljungqvist accused Sotomayor of failing a subsequent out-of-competition test and said he should still be banned.

 However, since a positive result for a stimulant such as cocaine is not considered an offense when it is taken out of competition, the IAAF arbitration panel was not advised of the second positive result.

 As much as Sotomayor is looking forward to the Olympic games, what lies beyond is just as important for him.

 "After Sydney, I'll see with lawyers what's the best thing to do. I can imagine the possibility of civil court to clear my name," he said. "The first injustice was my disqualification at the Pan Ams and my suspension.

 "However, the main injustice is that I'm treated as someone who has taken banned substances."