The International Association of Athletics Federations has rejected double world sprint champion Kelli White's explanation of why she tested positive for a stimulant at the World Championships.
"The IAAF has received the athlete's explanation for testing positive for modafinil at the World Championships in Paris last month," IAAF spokesman Nick Davies said on Tuesday. "Following careful examination the explanation has not been accepted."
"In accordance with the normal disciplinary procedures under our rules the matter has now be referred to the U.S. anti-doping agency for a hearing on a date to be agreed with the athlete."
White, the first American to win the 100-200 sprint double, has not been suspended pending her hearing before the U.S. anti-doping agency and can therefore run at this weekend's inaugural World Athletics Final at Monaco's Stade Louis II.
However, if she is found guilty of a doping offence White would be stripped of the individual gold medals she won in Paris last month.
"The IAAF has already announced that if it is confirmed after the hearing that the athlete has committed a doping offence, the sanction under IAAF rules will be a public warning and disqualification from the competition," said Davies.
The 26-year-old White tested positive for modafinil, which is not at present on the IAAF banned list, after winning the 100 metres final on August 24. A urine sample taken after she won the 200 four days later was found to be clean.
The sprinter said at the time that she had been prescribed modafinil to combat narcolepsy, or sleepiness, and had not sought exemption or entered it on her doping control form because it was not on the banned list.
The IAAF said last week that modafinil is now to be classified as a weaker stimulant and will be placed on the World Anti-Doping Agency's banned list next year.
