"I'm so relieved, it's been a long two years" - Carina Horn after winning doping case

South African 100m record holder Carina Horn is relieved to be back in action after two long years out of action which came as a result of a doping suspension. In September 2019, World Athletics' Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) found the 32-year old guilty of using a banned substance similar to growth hormone and slapped her with a provisional ban as she contested the findings. The first South African woman to dip under 11 seconds says she's glad the ordeal is finally over.

"I'm so relieved, it's been a long two years. This is something you can't even explain," said an elated Horn. "First of all, this has taught me to be patient in life because I wasn't before. But I'm happy that I'm going to compete again. But being out of action taught me to be patient with the process. I've missed the Olympics as well as World Championships but it's something I can't change now so the next focus is to try to get back where I was before."

Horn in action at the 2017 World Championships in London. She missed the 2019 edition of the competition because of the doping ban. Photo Credit: Roger Sedres.

The Ladysmith-born athlete says the road to regain her form will take some time."I can't promise that I'll be at my level best for now. So I must train hard to be ready to regain my form. For now, I must focus on being ready for the next Olympics. This is my target going forward. It's not going to be easy but this is what I'm hoping to achieve now," she said.

Horn's last race was last with Gala Dei Castelli meeting in Switzerland.