LJUBLJANA, Slovenia -- Olympic 800m bronze medallist Jolanda Ceplak of Slovenia has vehemently denied charges of doping following the announcement on Thursday that she tested positive for the banned blood booster EPO.

"I have never used EPO or any other banned substances," Ceplak told Slovenia,s largest daily, Delo. "I'm not that stupid or foolish to use any banned substances."

Ceplak, the world indoor record holder in the 800m, tested positive for EPO after an out-of-competition test in Monte Carlo on June 18. The B sample test confirmed the A sample finding, resulting in a provisional suspension by the sport,s international governing body, the IAAF.

ANNOUNCEMENT SHOCKS SLOVENIA

The news of her doping charge and subsequent provisional suspension shocked this tiny alpine nation of 2 million, where Ceplak is by far the most popular and well-known female athlete. Stories of the announcement, first reported by the French sports daily, L,Equipe, on Thursday, topped the evening television broadcasts on Thursday and appeared prominently on the front pages of Slovenia,s main daily newspapers today.

No less shocked was the 30-year-old Ceplak, who said she has been the target of seven out-of-competition tests this season.

THREE TESTS WITHIN A WEEK

"I know that this is some sort of mistake,o/oo Ceplak said. ,,I will use any and all available means to try to prove my innocence."

Ceplak was tested three times within a ten-day period, out-of-competition on June 12 and June 18, and again on June 22 in Milan at the European Cup First League competition. The latter was a blood test which, as the result of the June 12 test, returned negative.

Ceplak, a member of the IAAF Athletes, Commission, now has 14 days to request a hearing with the Slovenian Athletics Federation (AZS). The hearing must then be conducted within two months.

Slovenian journalists harshly criticized the AZS for its slow reaction to the announcement. The federation claimed that it was first notified of the suspension on Thursday afternoon, but according to Chris Butler, the IAAF Medical & Anti-Doping Department Communication/Information Manager, the federation was notified on Wednesday, a day prior to the publication of the L,Equipe story and the IAAF,s provisional suspension.