By Ian Gordon, PA Sport, Edmonton

Athletics chief David Moorcroft is concerned that Paula Radcliffe could be the victim of a drugs sting because of her campaign to clean up the sport.

Moorcroft has given his backing to Radcliffe's anti-drug stance but admits the governing body could be powerless to stop any attempt to discredit her.

Radcliffe admitted her own fears that she could be set-up for a 'positive' test after protesting about the presence of Russia's Olga Yegorova in the 5000 metres at the World Championships.

Yegorova was suspended after failing a test for EPO last month but reinstated on a technicality and went on to win the title last Saturday to cat-calls and boos from the crowd in the Commonwealth Stadium.

"Paula is a brave runner and she is a brave person," said Moorcroft, chief executive of UK Athletics, of Radcliffe, who held up a banner saying 'EPO Cheats Out' before the heats in Edmonton.

"I think the stance she has taken is right and we support her but Paula's personal safety is a worry for us.

"Hopefully nothing will happen but it is difficult to think how we could try and legislate against something happening."

Moorcroft, who saw Radcliffe finish fourth behind three Ethiopians in the 10,000m, added: "You don't mind being beaten by a better athlete.

"I am sure that Paula is frustrated that the Ethiopian's beat her but if she has got confidence they did it legally it is not be a problem to her. But when you look around and see that you may have been beaten by someone who cheated it's hard to stomach."

Moorcroft insisted the test for EPO had to be used in and out of competition if cheats were to be uncovered.

"We have got to make sure that EPO does not take over endurance running," added the former 5000m world record holder. "If it does it will be a massive detriment to the sport.

"The test is there now, let's make sure the test is used in competition but more crucially out of competition all around the world so that any athlete knows he or she could be tested. It is really important."

Yegorova, who had made a dramatic improvement this year, saw her suspension overturned by the IAAF, the sport's world governing body, because the French lab tested only her urine and not also her blood.

Radcliffe staged her dramatic protest before the 5000m final, which saw British athlete Kathy Butler miss out because Yegorova was allowed to run.

But afterwards Radcliffe admitted she could fall victim to a positive test and pointed to the case of Germany's former Olympic 5000m champion Dieter Baumann who claimed his toothpaste had been spiked.

"I know what I'm doing is dangerous," admitted Radcliffe. "Dieter Baumann, who was outspoken about drugs in Germany, tested positive for nandrolone.

"Strange things happened to him. I think he was set up and you have to be very careful.

"I fear I might be got at too. You have to be very wary because I know I'm taking a risk by staging a protest. It's something I have to be careful about. I know I'm rocking the boat."