Jamie Stevenson.

JERSEY shot putter Jamie Stevenson has been provisionally suspended from competition after allegedly refusing to take a drugs test.

The 20-year-old Newham and Essex Beagles AC athlete has been charged, along with fellow shot putter Kieren Kelly, with violating an anti-doping rule by allegedly refusing to take a drugs test on 9 January.

It is understood that the pair, who have been told by UK Athletics to make no statement until the hearing is resolved, were approached by investigators from the newly-formed UK Anti Doping Agency.

They are believed to have refused the test on the grounds that, after signing the consent forms, they were asked to conduct the procedure in a disabled toilet at Loughborough which they considered unsuitable due to its dirty condition and lack of places to split the samples or complete the paperwork. It is understood that a request to take the test elsewhere was refused.

If the charges are proved the pair could face a two year ban as well as a lifetime Olympic ban under the British Olympic Association’s by-law.

See Tuesday’s JEP for full story.