Whitlock loses Melbourne appeal

[rainbowgirl28]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/4405176.stm

Whitlock loses Melbourne appeal

Whitlock has always protested her innocence
British pole vaulter Janine Whitlock has lost her appeal to be allowed to compete at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
Whitlock, who served a two-year ban after testing positive for the anabolic steroid methandienone in 2002, qualified for Melbourne in March.

But she was prevented from taking up her place by a Commonwealth Games Council for England's by-law referring to violations relating to doping.

An independent sports dispute resolution panel rejected her appeal.

A Team England statement said: "The panel's decision means Janine Whitlock's selection by the AAAs for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games will not be ratified."

British Olympic chiefs also rejected Whitlock's appeal to be allowed to take part in the 2004 Athens Games.

Whitlock has always protested her innocence over the failed drugs test, claiming her sports drink must have been spiked.