Walker in action before his ban

The governing body of world athletics have also ordered the cases of Linford Christie and Gary Cadogan, who also tested positive for nandrolone, to go to arbitration.

It remains to be seen whether the IAAF will also intervene in the case of Mark Richardson, who has also cleared by UK Athletics after testing positive for the same banned substance last October.

An independent disciplinary committee has dismissed doping charges against him, and he also now intends to try and qualify for the Olympics.

Mrs Justice Hallett's order came on the second day of the action brought by Walker against UK Athletics and the IAAF. Both are defending the case, which has now been adjourned to a later date.

Walker's barrister Andrew Hunter told the judge the IAAF's intervention was "highly unjust".

No suggestion

He added it was not a case where there was any suggestion Walker was guilty of deliberate misuse of drugs.

"The UK Athletics disciplinary committee unanimously concluded there was no question of this. The IAAF does not challenge this conclusion."

Hunter added: "Mr Walker has therefore been caught up in a dispute between UKA and the IAAF about the correct construction of strict liability doping rules."

He said in February the IAAF changed its rules to provide for interim suspension of athletes in arbitration cases and had applied the new rule retrospectively to Walker.

The judge said if interim relief was not granted to Walker following the adjournment of the case the consequences for him would be "incalculable".