LONDON, Nov 7: European champion sprinter Dwain Chambers was suspended with immediate effect on Friday after UK Athletics confirmed that a positive test for the designer steroid THG was supported by the results of his B test.

“UK Athletics can today confirm the adverse finding for Tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), an anabolic agent, in a urine sample given by Dwain Chambers in an out-of-competition test conducted by the IAAF on 1 August 2003,” a statement said.

Chambers’s lawyer Graham Shear said he was preparing a statement but had no immediate comment on the news.

The test for the newly-discovered tetrahydrogestrinone was conducted in Los Angeles on Monday. Its result was leaked on Thursday evening and could leave the Briton’s career in tatters.

Chambers, who denies knowingly taking the drug or intending to cheat in any way, will now put his case as to why he tested positive for the steroid with an out-of-competition sample taken on while training in Germany.—Reuters