29/08/00: A track and field athlete has failed an out-of-competition test at the Sydney Games, Olympic medical chief Alexandre de Merode said today.

After a meeting of the International Olympic Committee's medical commission, de Merode said the athlete-- who had already left the Games - had failed a random test taken a few days after finishing competing.

De Merode declined to give the name of the athlete, the nationality or the event but the case is believed to involve a sportswoman who did not make a major impact at the Games.

"The athlete took part in one competition and had a test afterwards, but some days afterwards, and then left because the team estimated that she was not well enough qualified," de Merode said.

Officials are carrying out out-of-competition tests for the first time at an Olympics.

Before the athletics started, Belarus hammer thrower Vadim Devyatovsky was sent home after testing positive for nandrolone in an out-of-competition test in the Olympic village.

Five competitors have tested positive for banned drugs in competition tests carried out during the Olympics, and several athletes were banned from the Games for failing out-of-competition tests before the start.

Four of the five were stripped of their medals. - Reuters