Spanish steeplechaser Blanco denies doping

Madrid: European steeplechase bronze medallist Jose Luis Blanco has denied using banned substances after the Spanish athletics federation (RFEA) opened an investigation into a failed doping test. Blanco issued a statement to local media on Thursday saying the RFEA had informed him several days ago they had started the probe because of a positive test at July`s national championships in Aviles."I would like to state that during my lengthy sporting career I have never committed any infraction and I have never used any banned substance so I don`t think I have to hide from anyone or be ashamed of anything," the statement said. Blanco added he had collected a dossier of evidence he said would prove his "complete and absolute innocence" and noted that between June and September this year he had passed nine doping tests in four different countries. A decision would be made at some point by the RFEA`s competition committee and until then it should be assumed he was innocent, he said.Blanco finished third at the European Championships in Barcelona in August behind Frenchmen Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad and Bouabdellah Tahri. Bureau Report