Olympics: British star pulls out over drug case

Richardson: Proving innocence is more important than competing

LONDON, United Kingdom (Reuters) -- British 400 metres runner Mark Richardson has withdrawn from the Sydney Olympics, saying he needed more time to prepare his defence in a doping case.

Richardson had been facing an arbitration hearing by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) in seven days' time, less than a week before the start of the track and field events in Sydney.

The 27-year-old tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone in October 1999 but was cleared by a UK Athletics panel in July.

But the IAAF banned Richardson pending a decision by its arbitration panel and he had been training for Sydney without knowing whether he would be allowed to compete.

Richardson, who has been in great form over the last few weeks, said on Saturday that British officials had asked the IAAF to adjourn his arbitration hearing to give him time to produce new scientific evidence which he believed would clear his name.

"My ultimate aim has been to prove to the IAAF that I did not commit a doping offence," he said in a statement released in London.

"We have already proved this at a national level and I have every confidence that we shall do this again," he said.

"Unfortunately in order to achieve this we always needed more time to produce new internationally approved scientific evidence. At least now we can work on this."

He said the decision to ask for an adjournment had been difficult.

"This will be the first time I will not be part of the 4x400 relay for nine years," he added. "I am gutted."

"I was really looking forward to the Olympic Games in Sydney but for me at this moment in my life the important thing is not the taking part but proving my innocence to our world governing body."

The IAAF said in a statement from its Monte Carlo headquarters that it had raised no objection to UK Athletics' request to adjourn the hearing and would set a new date later.

Three other British athletes were banned for two years by the IAAF last month after testing positive for nandrolone.

Former Olympic gold medallist Linford Christie, hurdler Gary Cadogan and 200 metres European champion Doug Walker all protested their innocence.

At their hearing, the trio cited scientific research which maintained that legal dietary supplements combined with vigorous exercise could cause a high concentration of nandrolone metabolites in body fluids.

Christie, now a coach, withdrew his Olympic accreditation request after his ban but has been working with a group of British athletes preparing for the Games on Australia's Gold Coast.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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