A French runner has blamed contaminated rain water after she tested positive for EPO following a half-marathon.
Distance runner Fatima Yvelain, a four-time national champion in the 5000m, claimed heavy rainfall on the day of the race had caused water streaming over the course to become contaminated with unidentified medical waste, at an unspecified location on the course.
Yvelain claimed that the rain water - coincidentally now laced with a prohibited substance that is particularly beneficial to distance athletes - splashed on to her shorts. Her urine then became contaminated when she provided a sample at a doping test after the race.
The French Athletics Federation listened to Yvelain's explanation and promptly rejected it, banning her from the sport for two years.