Austrian runner Pumper confirms positive test

Austrian marathon runner Susanne Pumper has confirmed media reports that she tested positive for an unnamed banned substance during a doping control carried out in March.

The 37-year-old, who set an Austrian national half-marathon record of 1:12.21 in Linz last Sunday, told the Austrian Press Agency (APA) that she had been informed of a positive A-test but not yet told what substance was allegedly involved.

She said the test had been taken following a low-profile half marathon race in Vienna on March 9.

Pumper, 37, had not yet qualified for August's Beijing Olympics but was hoping to press her claims for a starting place during next weekend's Vienna marathon.