EILIDH Child has spoken of her surprise and disappointment that American sprinter Tyson Gay has failed a drugs test only a month before the 2013 World Championships in Moscow.

Gay, the second fastest man in history behind Usain Bolt, was told by the US Anti-Doping Agency on Friday that his A sample from an out-of-competition test in May was positive.

Perth-born hurdler Child, who took silver in the British Championships in Birmingham on Sunday, said: "It's obviously not great and has put a shadow over athletics. But the positive thing is athletes are getting caught, so the system is beginning to work.

"It's big names too, so you know that no-one is being protected. Hopefully it will deter anyone else from choosing the wrong path and taking drugs."

She added: "I was surprised – you are always surprised. It's horrible when you hear something like that. The sprint is one of the biggest events, and I've always liked Tyson Gay as well. It's disheartening, but you have to think that hopefully in the long run things will be better."

In an interview with Herald Sport last month Child, 26, was equally sanguine on the topic of doping, speaking soon after her Scottish team-mate Lynsey Sharp belatedly became a European champion after the 800m silver medal she won in Helsinki last summer was formally upgraded to a gold. Sharp's promotion came after Russia's Yelena Arzhakova was given a two-year doping ban.

"You have to try to look at the positives, which is that more athletes are getting caught," said Child. "You have to hope the systems are in place and working; you would go crazy otherwise.

"There are athletes I race against who have served bans, but I have to go into a race thinking that everyone on the start line is clean. You need to be able to believe it's a level playing field. Perhaps when I retire and look back on things I might feel differently but at the moment, to keep my sanity, I have to think that every athlete I race against is clean."

Sebastian Coe, vice-president of the IAAF and chairman of the British Olympic Association, said last night: "The most important thing for me is that the testing system is working and for the sake of clean athletes it is very important we do not flinch in our efforts.

"This is not a war we can afford to lose, and it is important for any athlete to know that if they want to risk cheating that they are going to get caught."