Rugby athlete Katharine Merry could still have her coach Linford Christie by her side as she bids for Olympic glory next month.

Former 100m Olympic champion Christie was banned from competition for two years yesterday by the IAAF after it found him guilty of having the drug nandrolone in his body.

It was thought that the ban against Christie, who has maintained his innocence throughout, would keep him out of the Olympics.

That would be a blow to Merry, from Dunchurch, as he is her coach, and she would miss his advice in the vital hours before she competes in the 400m.

But today it emerged that the decision about Christie’s presence at the Olympics is down to the British Olympic Committee.

IAAF general secretary Istvan Gyulai said:

"This ban makes him ineligible to compete in international or national competitions but this sort of ban, in our judgment, has nothing to do with coaching.

"If he is accredited, and this is a matter for the British Olympic Association, then he can have access to the same facilities as any other coaches at the Olympic Games."

As Christie has already retired it could mean the ban is almost meaningless.

Although he has failed to clear his name, athletes are guilty until they can prove that they did not take the substance. Christie tested positive after he had retired from full time racing.

Other casualties of the nandrolone controversy are 200m runner Doug Walker, former hurdler Gary Cadogan and Jamaican legend Merlene Ottey.