SWIMMING'S governing body yesterday increased a doping ban on

Germany's former world champion Astrid Strauss to 18 months. The

International Swimming Federation took the decision after the German

national federation last month imposed a ban of only six months -- a

year less than the minimum.

Former East German Strauss, 800m freestyle world champion in 1986,

blamed the positive test for steroids last March on a heavy

beer-drinking session.