ANKARA, Aug 9 (AFP) - The coach training Turkey`s Sureyya Ayhan, the reigning European women`s 1500 metres champion, denied on Monday allegations that the runner had attempted to fix a doping test.
Ayhan, one of Turkey`s few hopes for Olympic gold, withdrew from the Games last week citing a hamstring injury, but the Turkish media has reported that the real reason for her pullout was a doping scandal.
"There is nothing like that," Ayhan`s coach and husband, Yucel Kop, told the NTV news channel.
"Her health problems started two and a half months ago... She has severe pains and cannot train," he said.
The head of Turkey`s government agency responsible for sports said at the weekend he had ordered an investigation into allegations that Ayhan had shied away from a doping test and had tried to submit someone else`s sample.
Kop admitted that an argument took place between him and representatives of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) last month when they visited Ayhan`s camp several times for tests.
He explained that the dispute erupted when a male official insisted on accompanying Ayhan into the bathroom where she was to give a urine sample.
"This is against the rules. He insisted a lot and even forced the door. I told him he cannot enter and pushed him aside. Then Sureyya and the female official went in and I locked the door," Kop said.
"He became angry... There was an argument," he added.
Kop also denied allegations that Ayhan attempted to switch her urine sample with someone else`s, that someone else was presented as Ayhan to the WADA inspectors and that the runner tried to evade the tests to hide a pregnancy.
He confirmed that the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) had asked Ayhan for a written explanation of the claims.
Ayhan became a national hero after emerging from relative obscurity to win the European title in Munich in 2002. She won the silver medal in the world championships the following year.