One of the most gratifying sights in the final two weeks before the British team left for the World Championships was the return of 400m man Mark Richardson.

The 29-year-old, having been forced out of athletics for a year by the need to clear his name after a positive drugs test, should by any logic not be in the sort of shape to be competing with the world's best.

But after pipping old rival Iwan Thomas to win the British trials in Birmingham, he went to the British Grand Prix at Crystal Palace and beat Olympic bronze medallist Greg Haughton, one of the favourites to take gold in Edmonton.

And with Michael Johnson, the American who dominated the event for a decade, in virtual retirement, the event is wide open for someone - possibly Richardson - to fill those golden spikes.

"No-one has stamped their authority on the event, but I have beaten two potential winners (Haughton and US champion Antonio Pettigrew) so personally I'm in a good position," says the Briton.

"There's no-one who's head and shoulders above the rest, but someone could make a name for themselves overnight."

Four years ago in Athens, Britain seemed set for a bright future over the one-lap race.

With three youngsters in the final - Richardson, Iwan Thomas and Jamie Baulch - most thought that we would be in the hunt for at least one medal come 2001.

But Thomas lost two years to injury, Baulch's form has slipped away and Richardson had to endure that ban before he was eventually cleared of doping.

Bleak times

"There were times when I thought I'd never be part of this sport again," he admits.

"The whole process was all going so slowly and it didn't look like we were going to come up with the evidence we needed to.

"But I had a great team working with me. Fortunately we were able to win through and the truth came out."

The ban for nandrolone abuse came at a dreadful time for the Windsor runner - on the very eve of the Sydney Olympics, when he was in the form of his life.

This season has hardly been any easier.

"I was training, but all athletes thrive on having goals," he says.

"I didn't know if I was going to be allowed to compete, so I was going through the motions.

"My preparation has been far from ideal.

"I've only had three races, not just because of my case but because I've had an Achilles injury as well - I've only been on the track for eight weeks.

"I have to take every round as it comes. It's going to be a challenge, and I'm going to need a lot of things to go my way. But I'm due a bit of luck."

And he is relishing simply being back in the action.

"It's like my career's starting again, like I'm in the team for the first time rather than being one of the most senior members.

"The competition can't come soon enough. I'm relishing being back in the mix."