Whitlock banned for two years

Whitlock must now decide whether to appeal

Pole vaulter Janine Whitlock has been banned from competing until July 2004 after being found guilty of a doping offence by UK Athletics.

The UK record-holder tested positive for the anabolic steroid methandienone prior to the Commonwealth Games.

She had been suspended from all competitions pending the outcome of a tribunal, which began on Tuesday and reached a guilty verdict on Thursday.

It doesn't mean that Janine is guilty - I know she has never taken steroids

Whitlock's coach Brian Hooper

Whitlock, who has set 36 UK records, maintains that she has never knowingly taken any banned substance and claims her drinks must have been spiked.

But she accepted, having considered the evidence provided to her, that the substance was present in the sample she gave on 16 June.

The 28-year-old will now have to consider whether to launch an appeal in a bid to get her career back on track.

Whitlock: My drink was spiked

Whitlock's coach Brian Hooper protested her innocence, insisting the decision was far from the end of the matter.

"It's exactly what I knew would happen. They have stated liability within the rules governing drug taking," said Hooper.

"It doesn't mean that Janine is guilty. I know she has never taken steroids. It is just the rules as they stand and she has been suspended for two years."

UK Athletics said in a statement: "In particular Janine Whitlock acknowledges that as UK Athletics' Doping Rules impose strict liability, it is not open to the independent Disciplinary Committee to consider her claim that she had never intentionally or knowingly taken a prohibited substance.

"Accordingly, the matter has been put to an independent disciplinary committee, chaired by Colin Ross-Munro QC.

"The committee have confirmed that a doping offence has taken place. Janine Whitlock is therefore ineligible to take part in athletics events for two years.

"This period of ineligibility runs from 19 July 2002, the date she was suspended."

Whitlock had reportedly been unable to raise the £10,000 needed for legal and technical representation at her hearing.