Keita's 'B' sample positive, no other cases, say IAAF

STUTTGART, Germany, Sep 21 (Reuters) Naman Keita's positive doping test has been confirmed by the 'B' sample, the IAAF said today while revealing there were no doping cases at the Osaka world championships themselves.

The French athlete, an Olympic 400 metres hurdles bronze medallist, tested positive for testosterone in Japan and risks a two-year ban.

However IAAF general secretary Pierre Weiss stressed that the control was carried out before the world championships themselves and was a matter for the French Athletics Federation (FFA).

''The Keita case is a clear positive test,'' Weiss said at a news conference before the World Athletics Final in Stuttgart this weekend.

''But it was an out-of-competition test at a team training camp and it must be investigated by the French Federation.'' He added: ''There were no positive tests during the championships or in pre-competition testing at the athlete's village.'' The FFA said earlier this month that Keita had blamed the positive test on a food supplement he ordered online to help regenerate a sore stomach muscle.

Keita, 29, was eliminated in the semi-finals of the 400 hurdles at the world championships.

Reuters BJR RN1834