In a statement released today, UK Athletics announced Warburton has been provisionally suspended from all competition after being charged with committing anti-doping rule violations.

The middle-distance runner has the opportunity to respond to the charges against him, and to have those charges determined at a full hearing before the National Anti-Doping Panel, it was added, although this will not happen before the Commonwealth Games.

Warburton had been due to participate in his third Commonwealth Games for Wales at Glasgow.

He had been knocked out in the heats at Melbourne 2006 and finished fourth in the final at Delhi 2010.

The 32-year-old also competed in the heats at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

In a personal statement issued today via his management company, he proclaimed his innocence and insisted that "the news of this anti-doping rule violation has come as a great shock".

"From the outset, I would like to state that I have not knowingly taken any banned substance," Warbuton added.

"As a professional athlete, I have always supported and have been an advocate of clean sport - nothing has changed in this regard.

"However, I recognise that the responsibility for this situation lies with me and I'm committed to working with UK Anti-Doping and will fully cooperate in the legal process.

"I'd like to take this opportunity to wish the best to all my team mates heading to the Commonwealth Games and apologise that I won't be able to join them as part of Team Wales.

"Finally, in line with this process and until the hearing of the National Anti-Doping Panel, I will not be making any further comment."

Gareth Warburton also represented Great Britain over 800m at London 2012
©AFP/Getty Images





Warburton is the most high profile British athlete in any Olympic sport to fail a test in recent time, with Greco Roman wrestler Myroslav Dykun and cyclist Jonathan Tiernan-Locke among the few other Britons to be embroiled in scandals in recent years.

Following the news today, Wales Chef de Mission Brian Davies, added: "Team Wales can confirm that one of the competitors selected for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games has been provisionally suspended after being charged with committing an anti-doping rule violation.

"As a result Gareth Warburton will no longer be able to compete at the Games.

"As the athlete is presumed innocent unless and until the charges brought against him have been upheld it would be inappropriate for us to comment further.

"Team Wales is committed to providing athletes with the necessary education required to ensure we compete as clean athletes at a clean Games, and have worked closely with UK Anti-Doping in the build up to Glasgow 2014."

The news is another blow for Wales before the start of the Games next Wednesday (July 23), following several other recent setbacks.

Last week, Wales were forced to drop Ashley Brace from their squad for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow later this month after the International Boxing Association refused to sanction her involvement, while national netball coach Melissa Hyndman was sacked in June and replaced by Laura Williams. 

It was also confirmed today that the 2008 and 2011 world triathlon champion, Helen Jenkins, would miss the Games through injury, and this follows the earlier withdrawal of reigning world champion Non Stanford. 

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