Hendricken wants an end to the affair

Geraldine Hendricken has called on the Athletics Association of Ireland (AAI) to bring closure on the case of her failed dope test which has left the Carlow athlete facing a two-year suspension, writes Ian O'Riordan.

The AAI have set up an arbitration panel to examine the case, but Hendricken has been given no indication of when the hearing will take place.

It's now almost two months since Hendricken was informed that an out-of-competition test, taken on February 10th, had revealed traces of the banned anabolic steroid nandrolone. An examination of the B sample confirmed that finding, but it has subsequently been revealed that two further tests taken around the same time have come back clear.

The AAI must also refer the case to the IAAF, the international athletics body who ultimately impose the athletes' suspensions. Yesterday Hendricken confessed to being more hopeful than optimistic that the two-year suspension might be reduced.

"I hope this hearing can be organised soon," she said, "because I just want to get closure on this. Right now I'm just waiting for them to get back to me with a date. I certainly wouldn't be too hopeful of getting any great news at the end of it, but I've done everything I can now, and would very much like to get it over with."

One of the first things Hendricken did after news of her positive test was to send the food supplements, which she admits to have freely taken, for laboratory examination to test for any possible contamination. Several such supplements have been shown to carry the risk of producing positive doping tests, yet her supplements have since been returned as negative.

"Well I was never too sure on that," she added, "because if there was some contamination, then you are only talking about maybe one bottle in 10." Hendricken, who just turned 33, is now counting on the results of two further tests - one on January 19th and the other on February 16th - which were returned negative. The latter test, taken at the National Indoor Championships in Belfast and carried out by UK Athletics, came six days after the Irish Sports Council test, which revealed the nandrolone traces.

"Well I think they have to be taken into account. I honestly don't know how the AAI will view them. But I do know the IAAF won't take them into account. So all I can do is look for some leniency, but I wouldn't be too optimistic. But what you have to look at as well was how I was running at that time, and it wasn't like an athlete who was supposed to be on steroids."

The exact levels of nandrolone in Hendricken's sample have also been revealed, but the athlete has been told to keep them private until the hearing. In the meantime she continues to train normally.

"Let's say the ban is reduced to one year, then that would mean racing on the track next summer. And also the Olympic Games. But two years would be more difficult."