DENVER -- Three-time Olympic pairs figure skater Kyoko Ina was suspended for four years Friday for refusing to take a drug test.

	John Zimmerman and Kyoko Ina have won three U.S. titles together.

An arbitration panel issued the suspension, the minimum possible discipline, on a 3-2 vote, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency announced.

Ina had argued she had not refused the test but requested a delay. She said a representative from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency came to Ina's home in Greenwich, Conn., unannounced at 10:30 p.m. on July 18. Ina said she was about to go to bed and could not produce a urine sample.

Ina, who has never tested positive for drugs, will probably appeal, said her agent, David Baden.

Ina could have been suspended from figure skating for life and fined $1 million. The U.S. Figure Staking Association will carry out the sanction.

The USFSA said it regretted the "unfortunate circumstances and irrgeularities surrounding her case.''

"She has been a tremendous asset to the development of figure skating in the U.S., both as an athlete and as a person throughout her career,'' the organization said.

The dispute was presented to the American Arbitration Association Oct. 11 after Ina appealed a four-year suspension recommended by an independent review board.

Anti-Doping Agency spokesman Rich Wanninger said did not know whether the same panel would decide the case if Ina appeals.

Ina supports the Anti-Doping Agency's goals but believes the system should be fair, Baden said.

''She's a three-time Olympian who's been tested numerous times,'' he said. ''She has never refused a test, nor has she ever not passed a test.''

The panel said however exemplary Ina's record and innocent her motives, she violated International Skating Union rules intended to keep drugs out of competition.

One of the three arbitrators, Christopher Campbell, wrote in a dissenting opinion that the Anti-Doping Agency didn't prove she refused to comply with the unannounced drug test.

After she asked to postpone the test, Ina said she was told she must sign a form saying she refused. Before doing so, she wanted to check with a 24-hour hot line for athletes with questions, but there was no answer at the hot line.

Ina also questioned the tester's credentials and procedures, but the other arbitrators said her complaints were unfounded.

Ina and her skating partner, John Zimmerman, said in August that they had signed with Stars on Ice and were leaving the figure skating circuit. Ina said at the time the switch would allow them to be more creative.

Ina and Zimmerman became partners for the 1998-99 season and won U.S. titles in 2000, 2001 and this year. They placed fifth at the Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Ina also competed in the previous two Olympics with Jason Dungjen.

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, an independent agency funded by the federal government, oversees drug-testing of American athletes.