"With a negative result from her 'B' test there is every chance she will sue. My advice would be for her to sue and then retire. A number of people have labelled her a cheat. If the test is confirmed as negative then we can assume she has a very good case for legal action. Considering her age and what she has been through it might not be a bad plan.

"There are two sides to the coin regarding testing for EPO. On the one side, the Jones result shows that the procedure of splitting samples does protect the athlete. On the other side, it shows that there is too much time between 'A' and 'B' samples being tested and the outcomes of tests being known. This allows for the possibility of a leak of information.

"The IAAF [world athletics governing body] can't comment on the case until there is official confirmation of the test results. We need to hear from either USA Track & Field or the US Anti-Doping Agency. So far only her lawers have issued a statement on the test result although it is unlikely they would do so without being sure it was true.

"I am sure she won't retire. She is likely to continue considering her recent form. She is a stubborn and determined athlete who has been deemed guilty only by association. She has come through all the controversies and is now ranked No 2 in the world in the 100m [by the IAAF].

"It was the ongoing inquiry by the US Anti-Doping Agency in 2004 which saw her form dip alarmingly at the Olympics in Athens. Her mindset now is likely to be a focus on the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and she will be anxious to return to the track.

"Unfortunately, her reputation will be forever tarnished. That is not to say she has taken drugs, I am not saying that, but her former husband [C J Hunter] was found guilty of doping offences, as was her former partner [Tim Montgomery] and her ex-coach [Trevor Graham] is linked to a number of athletes who have been in trouble for doping.

"She has had so much to do with doping issues that no summary of her career can be complete without reference to them. It is a life not unblemished by controversy."