Turnbull was cleared of the doping charge in October 2006

Almost 18 months after being cleared of a doping charge, Gareth Turnbull has reached a financial settlement with the Irish Sports Council over the case.

Last March, the ISC announced that it would pay the Belfast athlete the costs that he had "reasonably incurred".

However, wrangling over the sum meant that the case has continued to drag on behind the scenes for a year.

Turnbull was left over �100,000 out of pocket and it's not clear how much of that figure that he has received.

In a short statement, the Belfast athlete made clear his relief that the saga had finally been brought to a close.

"I have today reached an agreement with the Irish Sport Council on the payment of costs arising from the disciplinary procedures against me in 2006," said Turnbull.

The agreement brings to a close a most stressful period of my athletics career Gareth Turnbull

"The Council were under no obligation to pay my costs but agreed to make a contribution as my particular circumstances were not covered by the existing rules.

"I have always acknowledged that the Irish Sport Council had a duty to ask me about the anomalous result arising from my test in 2005 and in doing so were discharging their responsibilities to Irish sport.

"The agreement brings to a close a most stressful period of my athletics career and I will have no further comment to make upon any matters covered by the agreement."

The middle-distance athlete had been facing a possible two-year ban after a drugs test on 30 September 2005 showed up higher than normal levels of testosterone.

Turnbull wasn't informed of the positive test until 12 June 2006 and he immediately stressed his innocence after being informed of the charge.

The 1500m runner was vindicated in October 2006 when the Irish Sport Anti-Doping Panel ruled that Turnbull's elevated testosterone level "as a matter of probability" had been "induced by alcohol".

On the evening prior to the early morning drugs test, Turnbull had been socialising while he was on holidays and had consumed a number of units of alcohol.

The Irish Sport Anti-Doping Panel judgement stated that the athlete had "discharged the necessary burden of proof in the particular and very unusual circumstances of the present case".

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The reading from the test (5.8 to 1) would not have registered as a testosterone positive until 2005 when the legal ratio was reduced from 6:1 to 4:1.

In addition, the runner had had several tests before and after the 30 September 2005 test which showed normal testosterone levels.

Turnbull contended that the marginal failure should not have led to him being charged but the Irish Sports Council always maintained that it was correct to take the case against the Belfast athlete.

The 28-year-old returned to major championship action at last year's European Indoors in Birmingham but he suffered a chastening experience in the 1500m.

As the emotional turmoil of his ordeal hit him with avengeance, Turnbull struggled for motivation last summer before regaining his enthusiasm for the sport in the autumn.

He claimed a couple of impressive road race wins over the winter and also took the 3000m title at the Irish Indoor Championships before heading for warm-weather training in the US.

Turnbull's target for this season is to achieve his long-cherished ambition of representing Ireland in the Olympic Games.