Athletics: Livingston waits

BRITISH officials are today considering an appeal made by Jason Livingston against a four-year ban for drug abuse.

The 21-year-old European indoor 60 metres champion, who was sent home from the Barcelona Olympics in August after a random drug test carried out by the Sports Council on 15 July showed the presence of the banned steroid methandianone, presented his case yesterday to a panel of three British Athletic Federation officials at a disciplinary hearing in London.

The BAF will announce the verdict tomorrow, although Livingston would still have the option of a further appeal to an independent panel if his ban is upheld.

Livingston, who asked for more time to prepare his case when the first opportunity to appeal arose in October, has consistently protested his innocence since being summoned home from the Olympic village on the eve of the track programme.

The trio who heard evidence from Livingston yesterday were Nick Whitehead, the former British team manager who chaired the disciplinary committee, Bob Greenoak, secretary of the Scottish Athletic Federation, and Jocelyn Hoyte-Smith, the former British 400 metres international.