Moroccan world steeplechaser first athlete to test positive

BERLIN: Moroccan Jamel Chatbi pleaded his innocence on Tuesday after a positive test for the banned stimulant clenbuterol made him the first doping casualty of the World Athletics Championships.

An 'A' sample from Chatbi, who had been due to compete in the 3,000ms steeplechase final later on Tuesday, taken on Saturday tested positive for clenbuterol, according to a statement from the Moroccan federation.

But the 25-year-old who was recently crowned Mediterranean Games champion in Pescara, Italy, refuted all allegations that he had taken a performance-enhancing product.