DISGRACED Olympic athlete Janine Whitlock, who was banned from the pole vault for doping offences, has been competing in weightlifting competitions under a false name.

The 30-year-old from Liversedge, banned from athletics for two years last summer after testing positive for taking anabolic steroids, lifted in two events in the south east, helped by a leading official in the sport.

Whitlock, the British pole vault record-holder, was a member of the national squad in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. The positive test came last year at the Commonwealth Games on June 16.

Her ban ends on June 19 next year.

She claimed a drink had been spiked but a UK Athletics disciplinary panel ruled she was guilty of the drugs offence.

The British Weightlifting Association upholds drugs bans made in other sports.

BWLA chief executive Steve Canon said it took months to uncover the deception.

Brian Hamill, who was the chairman of the south east division of the BWLA has been suspended for two years for bringing weightlifting into disrepute.

He was disciplined for knowingly allowing Whitlock to compete under the assumed name Ginny Howgate.

He believed she was innocent of the doping charge and permitted her to take part in events including the South East Divisional Championships.

Other competitors and spectators recognised Whitlock.