Ohuruogu targets Olympic reprieve

World 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu is determined to overturn the British Olympic Association's ban on her appearing at next year's Beijing Games.

The 23-year-old is appealing against a lifetime ban from Olympic selection, imposed after she was suspended for a year for missing three doping tests.

"I'm number one in the world and it would be a shame if I wasn't in the Olympics," she said.

"I'm hoping my appeal to the BOA will swing my way now."

The BOA has received her appeal, which is supported by UK Athletics, and an independently-chaired appeals panel will hear it in due course.

Ohuruogu added: "There are precedents for it. I'm hoping that's the case."

World triathlon champion Tim Don successfully appealed against a similar ban given for a similar offence, which would suggest Ohuruogu has reason to be optimistic.

At the time, BOA chief executive Simon Clegg said the organisation would take a "considerably less sympathetic view" of future offenders, but Ohuruogu is hoping to be viewed in the same light as Don.

The BOA said in a statement on Wednesday: "The BOA is delighted for (British) athletics after a successful day at the World Championships.

"This bodes well for the future of athletics."

UK Athletics performance director Dave Collins is confident that the BOA will uphold Ohuruogu's appeal.

"I would hope the BOA will look positively upon it. I'm sure they will," he said. "It would be a great shame if Christine couldn't go to the Olympics.

"There has been no suggestion whatsoever that this lady was trying to cheat."

Source: BBC Sport