Demand for IAAF to 'close Modahl case'

Athletics

MIKE ROWBOTTOM

Vicente Modahl last night called on the International Amateur Athletic Federation to close the case of his wife, Diane, and clear her of any drugs offence. He believes the evidence in her favour is now so overwhelming that the sport's world governing body has no option but to accept it.

The demand came after the IAAF, which had said the arbitration hearing would be set by last month, announced that a date had not been agreed but the case would go on the agenda at a council meeting in Cape Town on 24 to 25 March.

The 29-year-old former Commonwealth 800m champion was cleared by a British Athletic Federation appeal panel last July after a disciplinary hearing had found her guilty. The IAAF, backing their testing laboratory in Lisbon, challenged the decision, and ordered arbitration.

Vicente Modahl said: "It's amazing they are still carrying on with the case after all the evidence put forward. Surely, the case should now be closed. Diane must be fully vindicated by the council. The laboratory in Lisbon should be closed or downgraded for what it has done to an innocent athlete."

"There was a time when we both agreed Diane could no longer run for the British Federation because of the way she has been treated. But that has changed. So many people have said they want to see her competing for Britain again that it would have been letting them down," he added.

He did not indicate whether Diane's aim is to win an Olympic place, but he said: "She is certainly training well enough to reach the qualifying standard."

n This year's London Marathon has attracted both winners from last year - Dionicio Ceron, of Mexico, and Poland's Malgorzata Sobanska.