FORMER world champion Mary Slaney has complained about the testing system which prompted the International Amateur Athletic Federation to suspend her from competition.

The 38-year-old Slaney was found to have unusually high levels of testosterone in her body at the US Olympic trials in June last year.

But the IAAF have only just taken action against her, suspending her until American officials decide on her case.

That could mean she misses the USA Track and Field championships later this month and therefore fail to qualify for the world championships in Athens in August.

However Slaney, who finished second in the 1,500 metres at the world indoor championships in Paris in March, believes the tests discriminate against women.

The year-old test shows the level of testosterone against epitestosterone and ratio of more than 6-1 is considered an indication of doping.

But Slaney's lawyers maintain that testosterone levels vary naturally in women and that she showed a lopsided testosterone ratio.

"Using the same rules or test in men and women because it has been proven that testosterone varies in women is discriminatory," said her lawyer Jim Coleman.