The head of UK Athletics wants athletes to volunteer as drug test guinea pigs to discover whether dietary supplements can cause positive tests for the steroid nandrolone.

David Moorcroft made the suggestion to acting IAAF president Lamine Diack in Monaco during a meeting to discuss the nandrolone crisis.

The former world 5000m record holder, who is now head of the sport's governing body in the UK, wants athletes to take supplements and submit for testing without prejudice and under supervision in laboratories.

"The supplement industry is growing so much and the stuff athletes are putting into themselves is causing reactions within the body that scientists do not understand," Moorcroft said.

"We're dealing with a supplements issue and it's important to find the truth. I want us to step aside from the legal process and work with athletes and the IAAF to find out what's happening in these cases."

The suggestion follows British runner Mark Richardson's admission that he is the latest athlete to test positive for nandrolone.

The issue will be a main item for discussion at this weekend's meeting of the decision-making IAAF Council.

"The council members will try to find a way to collect all the information and then take a decision," said spokesman Giorgioi Reineri.

Serious problem

"It's become a serious problem. People are asking why this is happening, but there isn't a reasonable answer to the question."

Moorcroft also called on the IAAF to put its nandrolone cases against Linford Christie, Dougie Walker Merlene Ottey and others on hold while the experiments are carried out.

Meanwhile Christie has claimed the alleged doping offences that threaten to end his career are a conspiracy to upset the preparations of the Olympic squad he is training.

"They want to sacrifice my eight athletes in order to satisfy their jealousy and prejudice against me," hesaid of the IAAF.

"It's a conspiracy. My athletes are all potential medallists. They are youngsters trying to get to the Olympics."

The former Olympic and world 100m champion is in Sydney working with an eight-strong squad of British Olympic hopefuls.

His case is still waiting to be heard by the IAAF arbitration panel which could impose a two-year ban.