ALVIN HARRISON, the double Olympic 4 x 400 metres gold medal-winner and the 2000 runner-up in the individual event, was banned from the sport for four years yesterday after becoming the second athlete caught up in the Balco (Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative) scandal to admit to taking drugs without the evidence of a failed test. Kelli White, winner of the 100 metres and 200 metres at the World Championships last year, was the first. Both are from the United States.

The US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) said in a statement: “Harrison admitted to using numerous undetectable performance-enhancing drugs, including anabolic steroids known as ‘the clear’ and ‘the cream’, insulin, EPO, growth hormone and modafinil.” He had accepted the suspension, the USADA added.

Harrison, 30, won his Olympic medals at Atlanta in 1996 and Sydney in 2000, but he did not compete in Athens. Now three of the US squad from Sydney — Harrison, his twin brother, Calvin, and Jerome Young — have failed tests or been banned for doping. The IAAF ruled three months ago that the US should be stripped of their medals in the event, a decision that needs IOC approval.

Harrison has forfeited all of his results and winnings since February 1, 2001. Balco is the laboratory in California that is alleged to have supplied illegal steroids to elite athletes. The USADA said that ten other athletes had received sanctions for positive tests for THG, the steroid, or modafinil, two of the drugs linked to Balco.