CHRISTINE Ohuruogu didn't believe in fairytales - until yesterday.

The British one-lapper has spent the last year courting controversy, rather than chasing medals. Suspended for 12 months for missing three random drugs tests, the girl with the funny name from east London didn't have much to smile about.

She admitted she was flat broke after incurring £20,000 in legal costs fighting her penalty, continually insisting she was guilty of nothing more than naivety and forgetfulness, rather than anything dark and sinister.

But she wiped that debt out in just 49.61 seconds yesterday, the time it took her to storm to gold and become the first British woman to win a world track title since Sally Gunnell in 1993.

But even much-needed hard cash doesn't mean quite so much when you've your hands on precious gold.

"There were many moments of despair but I'd never have forgiven myself if I hadn't stuck it," said Ohuruogu.

"There were times when I thought I couldn't be bothered with going through the hassle of training because I didn't know what I was doing it for.

"But I can walk off this track with my head held high. I know how hard I've worked for this and the critics haven't seen that.

"I work off challenges, I like people saying I can't do things and I like to be pushed. All the negativity has just spurred me on - I've proved a lot of people wrong and that's great."

But Ohuruogu still has more battles to come.

Her one-year suspension means she is banned from ever competing in a British Olympic team - a decision she is appealing, with a result expected in October.

Last night her family gathered around a TV set in Stratford, just a short digger ride from the building site that will become London's 2012 Olympic park.

But the one-time poster girl of that bid is not looking that far ahead.

"I just want to enjoy this moment now because I've worked so hard for it," she added.

"I'm just glad I could make my family proud because I've put them through a lot. This time last year they didn't know what to do but they've been so supportive.

"Every day I was training I had this day in mind. For a long time it was just a hope and a dream but now I've done it."

Ohuruogu's enforced year on the sidelines has certainly changed her career. She has carved nearly seven-tenths of a second off her personal best, moving herself to third on the all-time British list with yesterday's performance.

Her broad grin was only matched by British team chief Dave Collins, whose cautious prediction of three medals has already come true.

In addition to Kelly Sotherton's bronze, Nicola Sanders chased home her team-mate to take silver and there are two promising relay chances to come.

The one-two is Britain's first since Colin Jackson and Tony Jarrett secured the top-two places in the 110m hurdles in 14 years ago.

Collins is a big hulk of a man but he wasn't afraid to cry as he watched the national anthem played and Union flag raised - tears of joy certainly, and maybe just a bit of relief as well.