A former fell-running champion who tried to kill a British Athletics HR manager was allegedly concerned about being stripped of her titles amid fears she would be investigated because she was transgender.

Lauren Jeska, 42, admitted attempting to murder former professional rugby player Ralph Knibbs, 51, during a hearing at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday.

It is understood a review was being planned into her status as a female athlete because she had been born a man.

Her titles could have been in doubt if UK Athletics ruled that she had had an unfair advantage while competing against women, sources suggested. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and West Midlands Police confirmed Jeska was a transgender athlete after the hearing.