Moorcroft defends drugs stance

Whitlock has set 37 British records in the pole vault

UK Athletics chief executive David Moorcroft insists the damaging publicity over Janine Whitlock's positive drugs test is a "price worth paying" for ensuring the sport is clean.

The pole vaulter has been left out of Britain's European Championship team after failing a test for anabolic steroids at the Commonwealth Games trials on 16 June.

Father leaps to Whitlock's defence

The drawn-out process before she discovers her fate is set to dominate the build-up to the Manchester event, which starts on 25 July.

Whitlock has to:

Decide by the end of this week whether to ask for her B-sample to be tested, which would be done by an independent scientist.

Submit any relevant evidence relating to her case to a disciplinary advisory officer by next Tuesday, 23 July, who will decide if she has a case to answer.

Await a decision on whether she is able to compete in the pole vault in Manchester, which takes place on Monday, 30 July.

If she has a case to answer, face an immediate suspension which would almost certainly rule her out of the Commonwealth Games, and probably European Championships.

Await a full disciplinary hearing into her case, which is unlikely to take place before the Games start, with the prospect of a two-year ban if found guilty.

Whitlock won her sixth successive AAAs title in qualifying for the European Championships on Sunday, but left the stadium in tears, aware of the impending furore.