British 400 metres runner Mark Richardson is one of two UK athletes who have tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone.

Richardson, who shot to prominence when he was part of the British 4x400m relay team which won silver at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, confirmed the news to the BBC.

UK Athletics had said it would announce the names of the two athletes later this week when the relevant parties had been informed.

But Richardson told the BBC that he had learned of the test result last November.

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"Anybody who knows me, who knows what I'm about, knows why I'm in the sport, knows that this is just a farce," Richardson, 27, told the BBC.

"I would never take anything illegal, I never have done."

Richardson said he had decided to reveal the news of his test failure because he had nothing to hide.

"I didn't want to hide away like a criminal," he said.

The other UK athlete remains unidentified. The pair are the latest in a string of British athletes to test positive for nandrolone.

Diet supplements

Former Olympic 100m champion Linford Christie was the biggest name to fall foul of the testing procedure.

His case, along with that of European 200m gold medallist Doug Walker and 400m hurdler Gary Cadogan, has been referred to the International Amateur Athletic Federation's arbitration panel after all three denied taking the steroid.

A BBC correspondent says both Richardson and Walker admit they have taken diet supplements.

Scientists last month concluded a report into whether such supplements are behind the rash of positive nandrolone tests by British athletes.

In 1999, there were 17 positive tests for nandrolone by UK athletes, compared with four in 1998.

Richardson said with the 2000 Sydney Olympics just months away, the number of UK athletes testing positive was a matter for real concern.

"This is Olympic year, a lot of hopes and dreams are riding on this year and you could find half the team is caught up in a nandrolone situation - it's frightening," he said.