Todd cleared in drug tests

Double Olympic equestrian champion Mark Todd has been cleared in drug tests along with other members of New Zealand's Sydney Olympics riding team.

Eventing New Zealand said yesterday that Todd had been cleared for cocaine, despite allegations that he snorted the drug in Britain in June.

Todd and five other members of the Olympic riding team were tested last month for more than 200 substances, including morphine, cocaine, performance enhancers and cannabis.

Graeme Steele, executive director of the New Zealand Sports Drug Agency, said it would take only a few days for a small quantity of snorted cocaine to pass through the body.

Todd, who is due to arrive in Australia from Britain on Thursday, could be subject to further random tests before and during the Games.