Commonwealth Games: Ex-world champ Montsho fails drug test, says federation

Botswana's Amantle Montsho taking part in a semi-final of the women's 400m athletics event at Hampden Park during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on July 28, 2014. -- PHOTO: AFP
Botswana's Amantle Montsho taking part in a semi-final of the women's 400m athletics event at Hampden Park during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on July 28, 2014. -- PHOTO: AFP

GLASGOW (AFP) - Former world 400 metres champion Amantle Montsho has failed a drug test at the Commonwealth Games, the Games Federation announced on Saturday.

The Botswanan, who won the world title in 2011 and finished second behind Christine Ohuruogu in Berlin last year, tested positive for the banned stimulant methylhexaneamine after the final of the 400 metres in Glasgow.

Montsho, 31, who struggled to finish fourth in the final, will have her B sample tested on Monday. She has been provisionally suspended.

A statement from the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) said: "In accordance with the CGF anti-doping standard for the Commonwealth Games, the CGF federation court conducted a provisional hearing this afternoon to consider an adverse analytical finding submitted by Amantle Montsho of Botswana, after the women's 400 metres final on July 29.

"The athlete's A sample was found to contain methylhexaneamine, prohibited as a stimulant under class s6 of Wada's Prohibited List.

"Ms Montsho was notified of her A sample result and has asked for her B sample to be tested, which will take place at the accredited laboratory in London on Monday August 4."

Montsho is the most high profile athlete to have failed a drug test at the Games, which have also seen 16-year-old Nigerian weightlifter Chika Amalaha stripped of her gold medal.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.