Australian athletics officials today confirmed that Linford Christie can continue to coach his British Olympic hopefuls. Athletics Australia received clarification from the International Amateur Athletic Federation advising that Christie, 39, is currently suspended from competing, pending the outcome of an investigation into the recent spate of positive tests concerning the anabolic steroid nandrolone. The IAAF council ruled over the weekend that national federations could not unilaterally clear athletes after positive drugs tests, as happened with Christie, fellow British athletes Dougie Walker and Gary Cadogan, and Jamaican superstar Merlene Ottey after they tested positive for nandrolone. "The IAAF has taken neither a decision nor action which should stop Linford Christie from carrying out activities as a coach," AA said in a statement.
