Hammer thrower Melissa Price has become the fourth American athlete to test positive for THG, the United States Olympic Committee has confirmed.
The US national champion failed two separate tests for the banned steroid on 19 June and 29 July last year. Price has denied taking THG and the said she planned to appeal.
In a statement, Price said: "I have never taken THG. I have never met Victor Conte or even heard of him, and have never taken any products from BALCO. I therefore have no idea how or why I tested positive, as I understand that the US Anti-doping Agency believes that THG came from Victor Conte and BALCO."
The 24-year-old, who finished 12th in the hammer at the World Championships in Paris, is married to British shot putter Carl Myerscough, who served a two-year ban afer testing positive for anabolic steroids in 1999.
Four US athletes failed tests for THG at the US Track and Field Championships last June. Although a number of American newspapers have suggested several names, Price is the first to be named by the USOC.
Filed by Rob Wright
