Marathon world-record holder Paula Radcliffe is looking forward to settling some "unfinished business" at this summer's Olympic Games in Beijing.

The 34-year-old was famously overwhelmed by the heat in Athens four years ago and was forced to pull out, despite going into the race as a strong favourite to claim gold.

Radcliffe also has fourth and fifth-placed finishes to her name from the Games in Sydney and Atlanta, respectively, meaning she is yet to make the podium at the world's most important event.

And after making a successful return to action after giving birth to her first child, Radcliffe is determined to fulfil her potential this time around.

"I've still got unfinished business with the Olympics," she told Sky News.

"I haven't been a failure in all the Olympics I've been to, but I just don't think I've quite achieved what I'm capable of yet, and I just hope that I can achieve that this time."

Radcliffe, a vocal critic of drugs cheats in the past, also believes that users are finally on the run ahead of the Beijing Games.

"There will be cheats, but the tide is turning," she added.

"We need to concentrate on what we can do to improve the testing and on what we can do to improve the moral side of it as well.

"We need to teach athletes all across the world that to have pride in your performance, to be able to look back at the end of your career and to be proud of what you've done, you have to have done it cleanly and have to have done it fairly."

Radcliffe has slammed calls for the event to boycotted in protest at China's human rights record and their continued presence in Tibet.

Rather than penalising the Chinese authorities, the Briton believes it is the athletes who would lose out most.

"This is your chance to go to the Olympics and you've prepared for four years, and more, for it. I just don't think the athletes should be penalised for where the games are being held," she said.

More news from SportingLife.com