"I don't know what happened," says Hunter

John Mehaffey

Tearful world shot put champion C.J. Hunter said on Tuesday he could not explain why he failed four dope tests for the anabolic steroid nandrolone.

The American, husband of Olympic 100 metres gold medallist Marion Jones, told a news conference: "I can't explain.

"I don't know what has happened. I can promise everybody I'm going to find out."

Jones, aiming for an historic five-gold medal haul in Sydney, appeared before her husband at the news conference.

"I am here to show my complete support for my husband," she said before leaving the room.

Hunter repeated three times: "I don't know what has happened", before breaking down in tears.

Hunter, who withdrew from the Games before the start, citing a knee injury, tested positive for nandrolone at the Bislett Games in Oslo on July 28.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials said on Tuesday he also failed three out-of-competition tests for the same substance this year.

"Nobody on the planet can say that I don't love my wife and I don't love my kids," Hunter said. "Never in my life would I do anything to jeopardise their opinion of me."

Hunter has two children from a previous marriage.

"Track and field has never been that important to me to the point that I would do something like that (doping).

"The Olympics are not that important. The reason that I do this is that I can travel round the world with my wife for free."

Nutritionist Victor Conte from the Balco laboratory in San Francisco also appeared at the conference. He said the positive test was caused by an iron supplement which Hunter had been taking.

He said it had been tested and found to be positive for nandrolone.

Conte said he understood British former Olympic 100 metres champion Linford Christie and Jamaica's Merlene Ottey had both taken the same supplement. Both have tested positive for nandrolone.

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