Hendricken tests positive for nandrolone

Irish 1500m runner Geraldine Hendricken has tested positive for nandrolone in an out-of-competition test.

The test, taken in Ireland on February 18, revealed traces of the banned anabolic steroid nandrolone which speeds up the process of muscle building and recovery.

The Athletics Association of Ireland have informed Hendricken by post that the February test returned a positive 'A' sample.

Hendricken, who is now suspended, will be entitled to an oral hearing and the 'B' sample will now go forward for testing.

Hendricken has denied taking any banned substance.

Contacted last night at her home in Carlow, Hendricken stated: "This is the first I have heard of it. I have not yet received any letter from the AAI but I have a notice here to say that there is a registered letter to be picked up at the Post Office and I presume that is it.

"But, honestly, I don't know how to react. I was looking forward to competing in the world indoor championships and the world cross-country championships. I just can't explain it. I just don't know what is going on."

Hendricken said: "I take nutritional supplements but nothing else and I am careful about what is in them. I have the Irish Sports Council's list of banned substances. I mean I have a cold right now and I don't dare take anything for it."

"All I can do now is send my supplements away for analysis but as far as I can see there is nothing in them that is on the banned list. Like I said, I would be always very careful about that.

"But to be honest I am so shocked I just don't know where to start."

A former scholarship student at Providence College she was the first athlete from Providence to win an NCAA title Hendricken returned to Ireland to help on the farm when her father died.

She later went on to get an MA in Exercise Physiology at Trinity College and, while she was teaching at the same time, she did not have much time for training.

Last year, however, she bounced back to set a whole series of personal best performances over 800m, 1,500m and the mile and ended up running 4:02.08 for 1,500m at the Grand Prix final in Paris, where she finished third.

The only other Irish female athlete to better that was Sonia O'Sullivan, who set the Irish record at 3:58.85 back in 1995.