Radcliffe hits out over Christie's mentor role

Athletics: Marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe has criticised UK Athletics' decision to appoint Linford Christie as…

Athletics: Marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe has criticised UK Athletics' decision to appoint Linford Christie as a mentor to the British team.

Radcliffe felt the former world, Olympic and European 100 metres champion was an unsuitable role model for up-and-coming athletes because he served a two-year ban for doping after testing positive for the steroid nandrolone in 1999.

Christie, 46, has always denied taking performance-enhancing substances.

"I don't think it's a mistake on the coaching side of things, but I don't think he should be in that mentor role," Radcliffe told BBC radio today.