Radcliffe was forced to miss the World Championships

Paula Radcliffe believes athletics is cleaning up its image - despite the recent scandal surrounding American sprinter Kelli White at the World Championships.

White tested positive for a substance called modafinil and could be stripped of the gold medals she won in the 100m and 200m.

"It was unfortunate a story like that had to break during the World Championships and in a way overshadow it and give it a negative outlook," Radcliffe told BBC Five Live.

"But what we have to look at are the positives and that the drugs tests are working.

"The thing I've been working towards is that we have a testing system that we can believe in and the people watching the sport can believe in

We are moving in the right direction Paula Radcliffe

"It's important for the athletes to believe they are competing on a level-playing field and to prove performances are clean when people do a great performance.

"We are moving in the right direction. We're not totally there yet, but every year we get closer.

"The athletes and the governing body need to continue to work together to make it go the whole way."

Radcliffe also leapt to the defence of British athletics following a disappointing medal haul in the World Championships.

"It wasn't as good a medal haul and a British performance as we might have hoped," she said.

"But we have to look at the positive performance by people like Darren Campbell, Hayley Tullett, Kelly Holmes and the relay boys and build on those."