Hemery delighted with nandrolone resolution

UK Athletics has announced an initiative, with the support of UK Sport, which could see athletics' national governing body take a leading role in research into supplements, metabolites and haematology.

UK Athletics has announced an initiative, with the support of UK Sport, which could see athletics' national governing body take a leading role in research into supplements, metabolites and haematology.

The International Amateur Athletic Federation may provide an initial grant of £32,000 when it meets later this month in an attempt to get to the bottom of the recent spate of positive tests for the banned steroid nandrolone. UK Athletics has been stung by the criticism which followed the clearing of several athletes who tested positive for nandrolone, including Linford Christie and Doug Walker.

"I am delighted UK Sport have agreed to have a large panel of top scientists look into the possible causes of these nandrolone findings," the UK Athletics president, David Hemery, said. "What we have not done well, so far, is to provide education of what can be taken. We will be asking the European Athletic Association for similar support. We have had a meeting with the new Sports Minister, Kate Hoey, who is also strongly supportive. I have asked her whether there could be interest from Tony Blair and Gordon Brown to link us with one of the three EU priorities for this year - the problems of drugs in sport."

In Lausanne yesterday, plans for a world anti-doping agency were given European Union backing. The EU sports commissioner, Viviane Reding, endorsed the plans after meeting the International Olympic Committee president, Juan Antonio Samaranch. The scheme calls for the agency to be operational by the end of the year.