Grandma blues

Kathy Jager caused a bit of a shock in the 100 metres at the World Veterans Championships in Gateshead last summer. Her muscular build, slim hips and explosive style not only brought her a world record, but had the opposition pointing the finger and calling her "a man".

So the 56-year-old fitness fanatic from Phoenix was submitted to the indignity of a gender test, which she confidently passed without needing to call her two children as material witnesses. And she then left the opposition with even more egg on the face when she also won gold in the 200 metres, silver in the pole vault and sprint relay, and bronze in the heptathlon.

End of story then, and another fairytale ending for the brittle spirit of modern sport. Unfortunately, not quite.

This week, the IAAF announced that Jager tested positive for the male anabolic steroid methyl-testerone during the Gateshead championships and has been banned for two years. Her world records have been struck from the books.

Grandma Jager says it's all down to a silly hormonal imbalance - a very female thing - and is not interested in an appeal.