Doug Walker's case has been drawn out for over a year

The first of a series of positive tests involving British athletes came in early 1999 when European 200m champion Dougie Walker was suspended for two years after a failed test.

In a pattern which to become all-too familiar to athletics followers, Walker was cleared by UKA - a decision not accepted by the IAAF.

Star names in spotlight

Christie was next to go through the process of positive test and clearance by the UK authorities.

Merlene Ottey: Multiple medal-winner

The 1992 Olympic 100m champion's case and that of Gary Cadogan added further weight to to calls for a review in the testing procedures .

And these were by no means the last positive tests, with one of the biggest names in the sport next to fall foul of the drug.

Merlene Ottey, the Jamaican sprinter with seven Olympic medals in her illustrious career, tested positive on the eve of the 1999 world championships in Seville.

She was later cleared, not only by her own domestic federation but also by the IAAF.

Richardson and research

In the meantime, UK athlete Mark Richardson tested positive and then German distance runner Dieter Baumann was cleared.

Mark Richardson: Cleared by UKA less than two months before Sydney

The German authorities appeared to agree with those in Britain that there were flaws in the testing process, a view which led to UK Athletics backing a research project into the matter.

That eventually concluded that there were problems, and UKA agreed to clear Richardson.

On the same day Walker was allowed to compete in this year's Olympic trials - although the decision came too late for the Scot to get into shape.

As former stars like Steve Cram called for action to sort out the mess, the IAAF sat down to consider the British research and whether Richardson would be allowed to compete in the trials for Sydney.