The decision against the 31-year-old, winner of the British title last year in Birmingham with a personal best throw of 57.44 metres, was confirmed today by UK Athletics.

"UK Athletics has today announced that athlete Joanna Blair has been provisionally suspended from participating in athletics after being charged with having committed an anti-doping rule violation contrary to International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Anti-Doping Rule Article 2.1, presence of a prohibited substance or its metabolites or markers in an athlete's sample," the governing body said in a statement.

"The provisional suspension was issued by UK Anti-Doping and is in accordance with IAAF anti-doping rules.

"The individual now has the opportunity to respond to the charge against her including the right to a full hearing of the case.2

Blair competed for Britain at the European Team Championships in Lille in France in June.

She was also selected for the Nitro Athletics event in Melbourne in Australia.

Taking place in February and championed by Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt, the competition was a "twist" on traditional track and field which saw innovations made to various events.

Blair failed to qualify for her home IAAF World Championships in London in August.