Linford Christie is out of the BBC team covering the Olympics Games after world athletics chiefs upheld a ban imposed on him when he tested positive for the anabolic steroid nandrolone.

Two other athletes, Doug Walker and Gary Cadogan, will also serve out their two-year bans, despite protesting their innocence and being cleared by the sport's British body.

But Christie may be able to attend next month's games as a trainer, as the ban will not prevent him from coaching.

He will also continue as the host of the BBC show Linford's Record Breakers following yesterday's International Amateur Athletics Federation ruling.

Christie, Walker and Cadogan were cleared by UK Athletics after evidence was produced to show the body can produce nandrolone naturally during strenuous exercise.

But the IAAF yesterday shocked the athletes by ruling that the findings did not exonerate them and upholding the bans for "doping offences".

Christie had already retired from competitive running when he tested positive, but the suspensions interrupted the careers of Scottish 200m sprinter Walker and 400m hurdler Cadogan.

The BBC said it was "inappropriate" for former world 100m champion Christie to act as an expert during the Sydney games.

A BBC Sport spokesman said: "The BBC feels with today's announcement that the whole of the controversy surrounding nandrolone persists and it would inappropriate for him to comment on the performances of other athletes."

Although Christie, 40, is not under contract to the BBC, it is understood the corporation would have been keen to use him for its Olympic coverage.

In a statement, Christie said: "I am very disappointed that the IAAF did not feel able to accept the new scientific evidence presented to them.

"I have never intentionally taken any banned substance and the IAAF have not suggested otherwise."

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