British sprinter Nigel Levine provisionally suspended after positive drug test

Levine allegedly tested positive for banned asthma drug clenbuterol

Levine was involved in a motorcycle accident last January (Getty)

British sprinter and European gold medallist Nigel Levine has been provisionally suspended after being charged with an anti-doping rule violation, UK Athletics has confirmed.

It was revealed in December that the 28-year-old, who was part of the Great Britain team who won the 4x400m relay at the European Championships in 2014, had failed a drugs test while recovering from injuries suffered in a motorbike accident in Tenerife last January.

Levine allegedly tested positive for the banned asthma drug clenbuterol and will be offered a UK Anti-Doping hearing to defend himself. Clenbuterol is on the World Anti-Doping banned list as it is deemed a performance-enhancing drug and can induce weight-loss.

In a statement, UK Athletics said: “UK Athletics has today announced that athlete Nigel Levine has been provisionally suspended from participating in athletics after being charged with having committed an anti-doping rule violation contrary to IAAF anti-doping rule article 2.1 (presence of a prohibited substance or its metabolites or markers in an athlete's sample).

“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 him including the right to a full hearing of the case.”