Ohuruogu victory as life ban is lifted

The world and Commonwealth 400 metre champion from Stratford was told this morning that she is free to compete in the Olympics after a panel ruled that she missed three out-of-competition drugs tests due to "significant mitigating circumstances".

Ahead of the verdict from the Sports Dispute Resolution Panel there was widespread confidence that the Briton would win her appeal because her case was strikingly similar to those of triathlete Tim Don and judo player Peter Cousins, who were also cleared.

Ohuruogu was cleared of offences under a bye-law of the British Olympic Association following a personal hearing before the panel, headed by Nicholas Stewart QC, in central London yesterday. They are expected to give their full judgement in two weeks' time.

Their ruling means that the 23-year-old will have her Lottery funding restored and she is also expected to attract a lot of interest from sponsors.

As one of Britain's few track medal hopes, and due to the fact she grew up near the proposed site of the London Olympics, she may once again be embraced as the face of the 2012 Games.

Simon Clegg, chief executive of the BOA, said: "The BOA is pleased to welcome Christine Ohuruogo as part of Team GB in Beijing next year."

Yet the BOA remain convinced of the merits of their draconian laws in deterring drug cheats, and Clegg added: "The BOA and the panel must stress that no-advance-notice, out-of-competition testing is a fundamental part of the fight against doping."

However, the way the organisation handles athletes who have missed tests - rather then those who have tested positive - will now be reviewed.

Ohuruogu was banned under the law which demands she makes herself available for out-of-competition tests.

She has already served a year-long ban imposed by her sport's federation - returning to sensationally win gold at this summer's World Championships in Osaka.

The victory was met with mixed reaction, with some asking how she could achieve such a time despite being out for so long. However, she has been tested 20 times this year and has passed every one.

On the eve of her hearing, Ohuruogu answered critics by expressing some contrition over the affair. She told a magazine: "The rules are there and the rules were broken. Ultimately it's my fault."