Ananova:

Linford Christie has been allowed to continue coaching some of Britain's Olympic track stars despite his recent doping ban.

The British Olympic Association have allowed Christie to carry on Sydney preparations with 100 metre champion Darren Campbell and 400 metre runners Jamie Baulch and Katherine Merry, after lengthy discussions.

Christie was locked out of the Olympic training facilities in Sydey earlier this year after the original International Amateur Athletic Federation drugs allegation.

Since then, he has been forced to switch his training base to the Gold Coast in Queensland state.

British training camp director Kevin Hickey said: "It makes sense. Certainly (Christie's ban) is sad for sport obviously, but it is something we have to put into context.

"As far as the preparations are concerned it will have no impact upon our camp, that's for sure.

"Hopefully the athletes under his charge will be given the care that they need and certainly from our point of view we'll do what we can to help."

Christie tested positive to banned substance nandrolone after a meeting in Germany last year, and despite being cleared by UK Athletics, a two-year ban was imposed by an IAAF arbitration panel last week.

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