Athletics: Marion Jones is not expected to return to action at this weekend's World Athletics Final in Stuttgart despite being likely to be cleared of a drugs violation.
Last night the American was informed by the United States Anti-Doping Agency a 'B' test for erythropoietin (EPO), a blood-boosting hormone, had tested negative. However, as yet, the International Association of Athletics Federations claims not to have been officially informed of the result.
The result, forwarded to the athlete through her lawyer, contradicted that of the 'A' sample which proved positive after she won the USA Championships 100 metres title on June 23rd.
In a statement, Jones said: "I have always maintained that I have never ever taken performance-enhancing drugs, and I am pleased that a scientific process has now demonstrated that fact.
"I am anxious to get back on the track," she added, although competing at the WAF where there is $3 million prize money on offer, seems unlikely in the present timescale.
The IAAF says it still has to be officially informed of the 'B' test by either USADA or the United States Track and Field.
"For the moment we only know of the result by what we have read in the media and we have also heard nothing from the laboratory which undertook the tests," said communications director Nick Davies. "We will not be commenting further until official notifications of the 'B' test have been received."
He did confirm provisional start lists for this weekend's meeting in Stuttgart have already been publicised and Jones is not among the eight starters in the 100m final.
That means the 30-year-old sprinter despite her enforced lay-off, is still lying second in the IAAF World Rankings which should have offered her a guaranteed lane in the race.
Instead it seems Jones will lose out on the opportunity of chasing the $30,000 first prize in the most lucrative meeting so far this summer.
However if Jones is quickly given the all clear there is every likelihood she will take her place in Team USA for the IAAF World Cup in Athletics next weekend in Athens.
Her 100m victory in the USA trials in Indianapolis before failing the EPO 'A' test, saw her automatically chosen for the meeting, which offers almost the same prize money as the WAF final.
Jones could pursue legal action over the incident, having missed three Golden League meetings and other likely appearances on the high-paying European circuit.
Apart from financial issues, this latest EPO failure to result in a conviction is almost certain to see demands made about what went wrong in the testing procedure and if it is really a reliable one.