NUREMBERG, Germany (AP) -- Germany's Dieter Baumann, the 1992 Olympic gold medalist at 5,000 meters, met the qualifying standard for the Sydney Games Sunday, two days after his drug suspension was lifted.

  Baumann, who tested positive in October and November for the performance-enhancing drug nandrolone, ran the 5,000 in 13 minutes, 18.78 seconds, at an international track and field meet.

  The popular Baumann, whose case had surprised both the German track establishment and public, then fell into the arms of his wife and coach Isabell amid popping flashes and TV cameras.

  "I knew what I could do and I did it," Baumann said of running a time fast enough to qualify for the games. "I've said since February I will start in Sydney."

  Ethiopia's Haile Gebrselassie won the race with a year's best of 13:01.07.

  The decision by the German federation to lift the suspension was seen as an indication he will be cleared when the International Amateur Athletic Federation's legal panel releases its final report this week. But the IAAF, the sport's world governing body, has cautioned it might challenge the ruling.

  "Our doping commission will look at this, and if they believe there is no basis to clear the athlete, they can recommend to the council to refer the case to arbitration," IAAF spokesman Giorgio Reineri said Friday.

  Baumann has steadfastly denied ever knowingly taking drugs, claiming he was the victim of a plot in which his toothpaste was spiked with the drug.