Ottey's management company, the Liechtenstein-based Fritz-Kaiser-Group, said that Ottey failed a drug test fter winning the 100m on July 5 in Lucerne.

The statement said that Ottey will not participate at the World Championships starting here on Friday.

After Dennis Mitchell's two-year ban for testosterone, Javier Sotomayor's positive test for cocaine at the Pan American Games and Linford Christie's suspension over Nandrolone, Ottey's withdrawal came as another big blow to the sport as it tries to convince the public it is clean.

Winner of 14 medals including four golds, ottey was shocked at the developments of the test, following a meet at Lucerne, Switzerland, on July 5, when she ran her fastest time of the year, 10.97 seconds for 100 metres.

``To write this statement (ofwithdrawal) has been the most difficult and emotionally draining experience of my life,'' she said. ``I have lived my personal and athletic life with the utmost honesty and integrity.

``I have applied only the highest ethical standards to myself and expect the same from others. I have always proclaimed fairness in sports and adamantly oppose the use of banned substances.

``I owe it to my family, my country, my beloved sport and all my fans around the world to prove that this is a terrible mistake and that I will do everything in my power to find the truth and prove my innocence.''

Ottey now faces a two-year ban from competition which would end her glamorous career spanning almost two decades and highlighted by heart-breaking defeats rather than triumphs.

A press release from Ottey's management agency said it was contacted on Sunday by a representative of the International Amateur Athletic Federation that `supposedly' a positive `A' test sample was found in a drug test at an International OlympicCommittee laboratory in Lausanne, Switzerland. The `B' sample has not yet been tested.

IAAF general secretary Istvan Gyulai confirmed the report, saying he was informed a couple of days ago. ``It was a personal shock,'' Gyulai said.

He added it was in the best interests of the championships, which begin on Saturday, that Ottey withdrew.

``It's in nobody's best interests if she comes here and runs and turns out positive (after the results of the `B' sample,'' Gyulai said.

Herb Elliott, a Jamaican delegate at the IAAF Congress, first heard of Ottey's test from the media and was very upset. ``This is a travesty of justice. In every lab, you are supposed to protect the interests of the athlete until the procedure has been completed,'' he said, referring to the `B' sample. ``There is nothing official yet. We know the tests are not completed. We have not been notified officially. The normal procedure is the athlete has the right to a hearing and the `B' sample is tested. As far as we know, this has nothappened yet. IAAF has certain procedures and these procedures have not been totally fulfilled.

``She will withdraw because she is a proud woman. This is a shock for all of us. I have known her since she was 7. I have never known her to be on any substance.''