Mark Findlay one of Britain's most promising young sprinters has been banned for two years after testing positive for a banned steroid
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Mark Findlay, one of Britain's most promising young sprinters, has been banned for two years after testing positive for a banned steroid. Mark Findlay, one of Britain's most promising young sprinters, has been banned for two years after testing positive for a banned steroid. Findlay, a 22-year-old Londoner who has competed internationally at under-23 level in the 100 and 200 metres for Britain, gave a sample which contained the anabolic steroid stanozolol on 27 July.The Blackheath Harrier has told UK Athletics that he has recently changed his medication for an unnamed long-term medical condition.Findlay has accepted the automatic two-year ban, which will rule him out of all competition until 29 August 2002, but he may apply to the International Amateur Athletic Federation for early reinstatement on grounds of exceptional circumstances.A spokesman for UK Athletics said: "Mark has admitted that he recently changed the medication he was taking for a medical condition. He has also admitted that this medication contained the drug identified within the sample."Unfortunately Mark had not checked the medication prescribed did not contain any prohibited substances. An automatic ban has been imposed from 29 August 2000."The case highlights the importance of all athletes stringently checking all medication, or other supplements they may take, for prohibited substances."Findlay came fifth in a 100m invitation race in the British Grand Prix at Crystal Palace in August, running 10.37 seconds in a contest won by Britain's World Junior Games hopeful Mark Lewis-Francis in 10.10sec.. England are out to make their experience of the Gymkhana Club conditions count when they face up to South Africa in their ICC Knockout quarter-final here on Tuesday. England are out to make their experience of the Gymkhana Club conditions count when they face up to South Africa in their ICC Knockout quarter-final here on Tuesday. Coach Duncan Fletcher and captain Nasser Hussain are agreed there is a significant advantage to be had in knowing exactly how to play at the home of the mini World Cup.South Africa, who arrived yesterday, fresh out of their own domestic competition, have played at the ground before but since then a new groundsman has been shipped in to prepare fast and bouncy pitches for this competition.England believe they learned much from Thursday's easy qualifying win over Bangladesh.
"It was a good exercise for us, because we were tested to some degree," said Fletcher. "We had to go out and better 232 - and the bowlers bowled very well We now know what is required on that wicket. It was a strange wicket for us to play on and the boys now know what line and length to bowl."South Africa probably play on very similar wickets but what is good is that we have had a game on there I would have hated to go into a big match without that. If you had not played on it you would have thought we were bowling badly But it is just a pitch where a lot of fours get hit. You will not play on a much better one-day wicket than that.A new face will be arriving in the England camp today in the Essex all-rounder Paul Grayson. The 29-year-old's call-up as cover for the injured Ashley Giles was somewhat surprising because Robert Croft is on the official stand-by list.The Glamorgan off-spinner spoke out petulantly when he was first omitted from the winter tour plans but Fletcher insists the decision to bring in Grayson - a county team-mate of Hussain's - had been made purely on tactical grounds in the belief that his left-arm finger spin will be more effective than the right-arm variety.Responding to the suggestion that Croft may have talked his way out of contention, the coach said: "That has got absolutely nothing to do with it. As soon as we got out here we thought we would look for a left-armer and now we need cover for Ashley Giles."England's quarter-final opposition are still having to deal with the aftermath of the match-fixing scandal which ended the career of their former captain Hansie Cronje.His replacement, Shaun Pollock, dutifully faced another series of questions about the consequences of the affair for his team, especially with the King Commission charged with investigating the matter due to report again soon.The defending champions' captain admitted: "It has been difficult for us in the last few months But what the guys have done is put it behind them now.
We are enjoying just getting out on the field to play cricket."Once the Commission has come to its final conclusion we can get on with restoring cricket to what it should be."* New Zealand Cricket is to compile a report of all available research on bowler's back injuries in a move prompted by recurring problems with three of its bowlers. Daniel Vettori and Dion Nash have been hit by flare-ups of old injuries while Geoff Allot is still with the team but under close medical scrutiny. The panel will collate all research relating to risk factors for bowlers, including information on conditioning, technique, bowling loads and intensity, the recovery schedule post-game and the number of games the players take part in.. Llanelli 20 Llanelli 20 Gloucester 277 October 2000JASON LITTLE took another significant step towards justifying his six-figure salary as Gloucester made a winning Heineken Cup debut at Stradey Park last night.The double Australian World Cup winner scored Gloucester's opening try - a defence-splitting 25-metre break - after switching from centre to stand-off when Simon Mannix suffered a suspected fractured wrist. And it proved significant towards securing a priceless away win, confirmed when Andy Hazell galloped over 15 minutes from time.Mannix's departure, with barely half an hour gone, looked a severe blow to Gloucester.
The New Zealander had landed three long-range penalties for a 9-0 lead inside 25 minutes, but his exit meant the England international Andy Gomarsall took over kicking duties, and he missed four successive shots at goal before converting Hazell's touchdown.The Samoan Terry Fanolua then kicked a 70th-minute penalty, and added an injury-time goal and Gloucester were home and dry at the expense of last season's semi-finalists.Llanelli's Wales lock Chris Wyatt crashed over deep into stoppage time, but Gloucester had already done enough. Llanelli had their moments, highlighted when wing Mark Jones finished off a well-worked move during first-half injury-time, but they conceded 10 points without reply after the break. With three home games to come, Gloucester are now well-placed for quarter-final berth.Little, who scored two tries on his debut against Bristol last weekend, effortlessly filled the void created by Mannix, and with Gloucester's forwards relishing the physical exchanges, Llanelli often found themselves nullified at source.Mannix landed his first penalty from 45 metres after just eight minutes, then found the target from similar range to double Gloucester's advantage. By contrast, Llanelli's Wales stand-off Stephen Jones struggled to find the target, and finished with an average return of four kicks from seven attempts.Although Jones kicked two penalties to reduce Llanelli's early arrears, Little wrong-footed the home defence, combining pace with power to smash his way over.Llanelli's most creative moment of the match produced the try, half-backs Guy Easterby and Jones combining to send Mark Jones through.Trailing by a point at the break, Llanelli needed to take control, but Gloucester were able to dominate by combining solid defence with committed set-piece work. Hazell had only been on the pitch for eight minutes when he pounced for a vital try, rounding off impressive approach work by the outstanding Gloucester centre Chris Yates, whose aggressive midfield running stretched Llanelli.That score gave Gloucester breathing space, and whatever Llanelli produced after that, it was always going to be too little too late.Llanelli - Tries M Jones, Wyatt; Conversions S Jones 2; Penalties S Jones 2.