FORMER Oxfordshire athlete Hatti Archer hopes to be be awarded a European bronze medal from 2010 after runner-up Marta Dominguez was suspended for blood doping.

The 31-year-old, from Radley, finished fourth in the 3,000m steeplechase final at that year’s European Championships in Barcelona, less than half a second off a medal.

But Archer, who was competing under her maiden name of Dean, could now be upgraded to bronze after Spanish silver medallist Dominguez was found to have abnormalities in her biological passport.

Archer is waiting to see what athletics’ world governing body, the IAAF, will do to Dominguez’s past results.

She said: “From what I undertand, they have suspended her, but they have not yet back-dated anything from that.

“All I know is that the reason she has been suspended is for her blood profile from 2008 to 2009.

“This goes back pre-European Championships, but they have not announced anything.”

Asked whether she thought she would now get a first major championship medal, Archer replied: “I will just wait and see. There is always hope.

“If someone has cheated, it is good that they are caught.” Archer can take hope from the case of fellow British athlete, 800m runner Jenny Meadows, who saw her European indoor silver from 2011 upgraded to gold after Russian Yevgenia Zinurova was found to have tampered with a urine sample.

Archer also has the backing of the British Athletics Supporters Club, who tweeted to her: “We’ve written to EAA (European Athletic Association) to ensure justice is done...”

Whatever happens, the former Radley AC member will not be racing this summer due to a persistent injury.

She said: “I have had a bad foot since the end of the cross country season. It just hasn’t got better.

“I am seeing a specialist at the end of August.

“Fingers crossed, I will be able to compete next season.”