Lottery boost for Ohuruogu

Ohuruogu, the 400 metres world champion, was in a celebratory mood on Tuesday after winning her appeal against the British Olympic Association's bylaw which prevents athletes with doping offences from competing again in the Games.

But now she has lifted the final weight off her shoulders after her year's suspension for missing three drugs tests, Ohuruogu will find herself back in the world-class Lottery funding level.

Had she not won her case with the BOA, she would not have been allowed to use the benefits of Lottery funding which can be worth up to £24,000 in cash and training and medical support.

Prior to her 400m triumph in Osaka in August, she revealed she had totted up debts of £20,000 in legal fees fighting her corner.

Along with her individual glory in Japan, Ohuruogu also was a member of the bronze medal-winning 4x400m relay team, meaning she won £37,500 in overall prize money.

But for many athletes, the opportunity to use UK Athletics' top-level medical services, particularly in an Olympic season such as next summer, Ohuruogu knows the facilities will be of major benefit.

She will prepare for the games in Beijing by warm-weather training in South Africa and she now knows she can start the countdown to Beijing free of any litigation over her drugs ban.

She said: "I am really happy to be able to compete at the Olympics. I do kick myself sometimes because of what happened but I did not wish for it and believe I dealt with it as best I could. The rule was there, the punishment was there and I took what was due to me.

"I can honestly say I am not a drugs cheat because I have tested during the time of my ban and during the time of my competitions."