Top women’s marathoner Paula Radcliffe denies cheating allegations

A top women’s marathoner has lashed back at recent media reports that implicated her and others in potential widespread doping.

Paula Radcliffe, one of the many athletes whose results were anonymously included in the German and British stories, characterized the reporting as “sensationalist” and “plainly unacceptable.”

“I categorically deny that I have resorted to cheating in any form whatsoever at any time in my career and am devastated that my name has even been linked to these wide-ranging accusations,” she said in a statement Monday.

Earlier this year, German broadcaster ARD and the Sunday Times of London alleged that past testing data -- leaked from international track federation files -- showed a high incidence of suspicious results.

No athletes were named, but Radcliffe and others have been subsequently identified.

The 41-year-old runner, who holds the world record in the women’s marathon, spoke out after a Parliamentary committee meeting.

“The investigation by ARD and the Sunday Times may have been a perfectly valid enterprise if the goal was to expose cheats, their supporters and their infrastructures,” she said. “If, however, innocent athletes, as in my case, are caught up in the desire to sensationalize and expand the story, then that goal loses a lot of credibility, and indeed, opportunities to catch the true offenders.”

Radcliffe said three of her test results raised red flags, but in each case authorities found alternate explanations for fluctuations in her blood data.

In one case, she had been taking antibiotics for an illness, she said. In the others, she was tested immediately after racing in hot weather, which can unduly influence results. Officials now wait a couple of hours to allow for more-reliable measures.

Radcliffe said: “I welcome further investigation if it is necessary, however, multiple experts having already concluded contemporaneously and following the Sunday Times’ articles that there is simply no case to answer.”