McColgan, 47, left Arbroath's sheriff court in tears after pleading not guilty to several charges of striking Peter McColgan around the head and body on July 12, and throwing his clothes down some stairs and out of a window.

The long-distance runner, who won Olympic silver and Commonwealth gold, shares a home in Angus, Scotland, with their five children and her husband.

The couple completed an amicable separation last year and run a health centre from the house.

McColgan, whose 20-year-old daughter, Eilish, is due to compete in the 3,000m steeplechase at the Samsung Diamond League meeting at Crystal Palace on Saturday (August 6), is also accused of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear and alarm.

At court, her defence lawyer, Gary McIlravey, said she was pleading not guilty and successfully asked for her to be released on bail.

She is due to stand trial in November.

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