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Wednesday, 24 July, 2002, 13:29 GMT 14:29 UK
Whitlock banned from Games
Pole vaulter Janine Whitlock will miss the Commonwealth Games while a disciplinary committee hearing investigates her positive drugs test.
UK Athletics has confirmed that Whitlock has been suspended from competition after she tested positive for a banned anabolic steroid at last month's Commonwealth Games trials.
The independent drugs advisory officer (DAO) has ruled that she has a case to answer based on her A sample.
The 28-year-old English athlete faces a two-year ban from competition if an analysis of her B sample also proves positive.
Whitlock's place in the pole vault competition for Manchester has been given to Tracey Bloomfield.
The 23-year-old finished third in the AAAs and is the current southern England champion.
A date for Whitlock's hearing has yet to be set but she has already stated her intention to appeal, claiming her sports drink was spiked.
A statement from UK Athletics said: "The DAO considers that there is prima facie evidence that a doping offence has been committed and therefore the matter must be considered at a disciplinary hearing."
It added: "Suspension should not be taken as an indication of guilt but rather that there is a case to answer."
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