LONDON, Feb 21 - Controversial former sprinter Linford Christie has been invited to carry the Beijing Olympic torch when it comes to London in April, the BBC reported on Thursday. The broadcaster said the invitation to the Briton to be one of 80 torch relay runners came from London Mayor Ken Livingstone, but a spokesman for the Greater London Authority (GLA) could not confirm that. Christie, who celebrates his 48th birthday four days before the April 6 relay, won the Olympic 100 metres gold medal in Barcelona in 1992 but tested positive for the steroid nandrolone in 1999 and served a two-year ban. Christie, who has always denied taking performance enhancing substances, is not allowed to work in any official capacity with the national Olympic team under British Olympic Association (BOA) rules. A BOA spokeswoman said he had not been nominated by them to take part in the event. The GLA are organising the relay across London from Wembley Stadium -- site of the 1948 Games -- to the 02 Arena that will serve as a venue for the 2012 Olympics. The only names released so far by the GLA are those of retired middle-distance runner Kelly Holmes, who won two gold medals at the 2004 Games in Athens, broadcaster Trevor McDonald and actress Amara Karan. The flame has been travelling the world before the Beijing Games in August.
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