 Paulen's best known role as an IAAF official was at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich when he was responsible for the "Cata-Pole" controversy in the men's pole vault and the claim by the pole manufacturers that their poles did not contain carbon fiber even though IAAF rules stated no such requirements.This controversy had a negative impact upon competition which the United States would lose the pole vault gold for the first time in the Summer Olympics.Bob Seagren, who won the pole vault gold at Mexico City in 1968, would finish with silver at Munich.