I've done nothing wrong so I'll be damned if I roll over and play dead.

Mark Richardson

"There are days when it's hard to train. You work with a goal in mind but my targets are clouded because of this situation.

Richardson: 'I've done nothing wrong'

"But this is my best chance of an Olympic medal and I know I've worked hard, within the rules, to reach this point."

The 27-year-old is carrying on with his warm-weather training schedule in the hope that an IAAF inquiry and moratorium on suspensions gives him hope of competing in Sydney.

Richardson, the last man to beat Olympic and world 400m champion Michael Johnson, was suspended by the British governing body UK Athletics pending a disciplinary hearing following a positive test for the anabolic steroid nandrolone in October.

"It's the worst feeling in the world to know you are innocent and still be labelled a drug cheat. I've done nothing wrong so I'll be damned if I roll over and play dead.

'I'm no cheat'

"I see myself as an ambassador and a role model for athletics. My entire career has been based on hard work. I've never cheated at anything."

He leaves for pre-season warm weather training in California next week.

Meanwhile, Birmingham City Council and UK Athletics have launched a bid to stage the 2003 World Indoor Championships at the National Indoor Arena.

The event has never been held in the United Kingdom.

The bid will be presented at the IAAF Council meeting in Paris on April 1-2, alongside UK Athletics' bid to host the 2005 World Championships.