MUNICH, GERMANY: Linford Christie of Great Britain concentrates as he pulls on his shirt before the start of a 100 metres sprint in Munich in this file photo from June 21, 1997.

LONDON, (Reuters) - FORMER OLYMPIC 100 metres champion Linford Christie has tested positive for a banned substance and has been suspended by the IAAF, the British governing body UK Athletics said yesterday.

The statement said Christie, 39, had tested positive for metabolites of the steroid nandrolone at an indoor meeting in Dortmund, Germany, on February 13.

"UK Athletics confirms that it has been notified of the suspension by the IAAF (the sport's world governing body) of Linford Christie following an adverse finding of metabolites of nandrolone in a urine sample," the sports body said in the statement.

Christie retired from serious competition in 1997 but continued to compete occasionally and UK Athletics said the sprinter, who has embarked on a new career as a coach, had asked to remain on the doping register.

The 1992 Olympic champion was quoted as saying: "I have consistently opposed the use of banned substances and it is ridiculous to imagine that I would take them after my retirement.

"I agree that there should be a full investigation into the numerous cases where metabolites of nandrolone have been found in urine samples to establish how this could happen without the knowledge of the athletes.

"Obviously, I am completely innocent of any wrongdoing and any case against me will be vigorously defended."

Christie has repeatedly spoken out against drugs and last year won 40,000 pounds (US$64,980) in a libel case after a magazine article alleged he had taken performance-enhancing substances.

In 1988, when he won the 100 metres Olympic silver medal after Canadian Ben Johnson tested positive for steroids, Christie tested positive for pseudoephedrine in Seoul but insisted it came from drinking ginseng tea.

His explanation was accepted by the International Olympic Commitee (IOC).

European 200 metres champion Doug Walker tested positive for metabolites of nandrolone last December while tennis player Petr Korda also had traces of the substance in a dope test carried out at Wimbledon last year.

Korda, who has since retired, escaped a ban because a panel decided he had taken steroids unknowingly. Walker was cleared last week after a panel ruled it could not be proved the substance came from a prohibited drug.

UK Athletics said it was concerned there appeared to be an increasing number of tests which have produced positive results for metabolites of nandrolone.

"It is important to note that the imposition of a suspension is not a declaration of guilt but rather the result of a decision that there is a case to answer," said UK Athletics.

Christie became the oldest man to win the 100 metres title in the history of the Olympics when he triumphed at the Barcelona Games at the age of 32.

The following year he won the Stuttgart world title in a European record 9.87 seconds and retained the Commonwealth and European titles in 1994.

He was disqualified from the Olympic 100 metres final in 1996 after two false starts.

UK Athletics spokeswoman Jayne Pearce said UK Athletics had not wanted to release details of the case until after a disciplinary hearing but had been forced to issue the statement after a report in the French paper L'Equipe on Wednesday.

"As it was in the public domain we made the joint decision to confirm it," Pearce said.