Ohuruogu strikes gold in Japan but Olympic dream hangs by a thread

Ohuruogu, who yesterday won the 400m at the World Athletics Championships in Japan, is appealing against a lifetime ban from the British Olympic team imposed after she was given a one-year suspension for missing three out-of-competition doping tests.

However, there is considerable hope for the 23-year-old, who launched an appeal last month, as world triathlon champion Tim Don was successful in his appeal after receiving a ban for a similar offence.

The British Olympic Association said in a statement: "Christine Ohuruogu was found guilty of a doping offence after missing three out-of-competition doping tests and was thus, in line with the BOA bye-law, made ineligible for consideration as a member of Team GB at future Olympic Games.

"At the end of July the BOA received Ohuruogu's appeal. An appeals panel with an independent chair (appointed by the Sports Dispute Resolution Panel) will conduct the proceedings of the appeal.

"The BOA is delighted for athletics after a successful day at the world championships with gold and silver medals won by Ohuruogu and Nicola Sanders respectively in the 400m final in Osaka. This bodes well for the future of athletics."

Ed Warner, the chairman of UK Athletics, has said they are supporting Ohuruogu in her appeal.

Don's appeal was granted due to mitigating circumstances, but though BOA chief executive Simon Clegg warned then the organisation would take a "considerably less sympathetic view" of future offenders it was made clear Ohuruogu was viewed as being in a similar category to Don.

Ohuruogu produced a fantastic late fightback to win the gold in Osaka.

Ohuruogu caught Jamaican Novlene Williams in the last few metres in a pulsating final to win in 49.61sec with fellow Briton Nicola Sanders taking silver in 49.65.

Williams, who had looked to be home and dry coming off the final bend, had to settle for the bronze in 49.66.

"This time last year I was in complete turmoil," Ohuruogu said. "I didn't know what I was doing. It hasn't quite sunk in yet. I'm just very happy I worked hard and everything came together at the right time.

"On the finish line I said 'was it me?'... it's unbelievable," she said. "I had butterflies I can tell you. Never in my wildest dreams could I have thought of coming back after my ban as world champion," she added, her voice breaking with emotion.

Runner-up Sanders could not resist a dig at critics who had written off British hopes of winning gold medals in Osaka.

"We proved them wrong," smiled the European indoor champion. "You can't ask for more than that. It's fantastic. But of course I would have like it to have been the other way round."

The one-two for Ohuruogu and Sanders is Britain's first since Colin Jackson and Tony Jarrett secured the top-two places in the 110m hurdles in 1993.

The event had been thrown wide open after American record holder Sanya Richards failed to qualify at the US championships.

In the men's competition Tyson Gay stayed on course for a World Championship sprint double by qualifying fastest for today's 200m final.

The American, who won gold in the 100m, coasted home in 20.00sec in the second semi-final with Jamaica's Usain Bolt winning the first in 20.03.

Gay, inspired by Sunday's victory over 100m world record holder Asafa Powell, cruised home despite feeling a twinge in his left hamstring coming out of the blocks.

"I had a little (hamstring) trouble at the start and in the curve," Gay said. "Whatever I've got left in the tank is for the final. I'm going to give it all I've got."

Wallace Spearmon, Gay's training partner and 2005 world silver medallist, was second behind Bolt in 20.05 and both will be expected to push Gay in the final.

American Rodney Martin finished third in 20.18 with Churandy Martina qualifying for the final in fourth in a national record of 20.20 for Netherlands Antilles.