THE international shot-putter fighting a life-ban for doping says he is considering legal action following last Thursday's House of Commons debate on his case.

Paul Edwards, a bronze medallist at the 1990 Commonwealth Games, was banned from competition following a dope test in 1997, which allegedly showed high levels of the steroid testosterone.

The 43-year-old from Woolford Way, Winklebury, said: "Legal action would make them either reinstate me or answer some questions. But I will be taking some advice."

He said sport minister Richard Caborn had said nothing new in reply to Basingstoke MP Andrew Hunter, who called for the debate.

Watched by senior figures from UK Sport in the public gallery, Mr Hunter told the minister: "UK Sport and UK Athletics appear so far to be institutionally incapable of tackling what has become an issue of morality and justice.

"We have encountered stonewalling, delaying tactics, wilful prevarication and appalling obfuscation."

He said testing procedures in Mr Edwards' case were "a total shambles" and the appeal hearings unfair.

He added: "An appalling injustice has been inflicted on my constituent."

In response, Mr Caborn claimed that dope-testing in the UK was among the best in the world.

But he said UK Sport - the quango responsible for all testing - is looking at Mr Edwards' case even though it is not obliged to.

He said: "It has agreed to do so in Mr Edwards' case because of his assertion that new evidence has come to light."

He said Mr Edwards could either ask for his case to be referred to an independent sports tribunal or the court of arbitration for sport.

He also suggested that Mr Edwards could refer his case to the Parliamentary ombudsman.