Diane Modahl, the world class 800-metre athlete who had to struggle against the odds to clear her name and get back in the race, is to present this year's Training Excellence Awards presented to the best work-based trainees by The Chamber.

Prize money for the awards totals over £2,500.

"Diane is a role model to our trainees," said a spokesman for the Chamber of Commerce, Training and Enterprise, "as an example of triumphing over adversity.

"Not only did she ultimately clear her name when falsely accused of taking a performance enhancing drug, but she continued with her university studies throughout the ordeal.

"There are six finalists in each of the three sections of our awards, and many of them were selected by the judges for the same stamina and determination in overcoming initial hurdles."

Diane won the gold medal at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, breaking the 800-metre record.

But four years later she was sent home from the Commonwealth Games, accused of taking Testosterone.

It took two years of vigorous appeal against the allegation before Diane was cleared by the British Athletic Federation and reinstated. The International Amateur Athletic Federation admitted that the laboratory which carried out the test had made fundamental mistakes.

Diane described her experience as "living hell" - but it did not stop her completing her studies at Manchester University and graduating with a BA honours degree in media and business management.

Diane returned to the Commonwealth Games in 1998 and carried off the bronze medal, achieving one of the fastest times in the world.

Six times British 800-metre champion, she is still the British record holder for the 600-metres.

She currently works as a sports presenter on BBC Greater Manchester radio, writes for The People, and is sports editor and journalist for the monthly national magazine 'Family Active'.

"There is no-one better suited to congratulate our top 18 trainees, out of a total of nearly 6,000 young people and unemployed adults we helped with training for work last year," said The Chamber spokesman.

The winners of the three sections will be announced at the awards night at The Chamber's headquarters on Thursday 11 February.