A second drug test specimen provided by sprinter Merlene Ottey has also returned a positive result, the Jamaican Athletics Federation said last night. Officials said they had been informed of the result by the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF), who had also told Ottey.

Ottey (39) returned a positive `A' test to nandrolone at a meeting on July 5th at Lucerne, Switzerland.

Ottey quit last month's world championships in Seville, Spain, after news of her positive test became public. She vowed there had been a `terrible mistake' and pledged to clear her name.

The news that the `B' test results are also positive will be a blow to Ottey and her bid to restore her reputation.

Several leading British athletes - Doug Walker, Linford Christie and Gary Cadogan - have been cleared by UK Athletics after testing positive for nandrolone, but they may still face an IAAF hearing.