The British Olympic Association insist they have not yet decided whether athletes will be allowed to wear anti-air pollution masks during this summer's Beijing Olympics.

A report claimed chief executive Simon Clegg would permit members of the GB squad to protect themselves from the expected high levels of pollution by wearing guards across their mouths, even if it angered image-conscious Chinese officials.

But a BOA spokesman said: "It is absolutely not the case that we have taken any decision to wear masks in competition in Beijing.

"The development work that has been undertaken is entirely focused on providing athletes with a range of support and advice to help in their preparations.''

Former Commonwealth 1500 metres gold medallist Michael East believes British runners would anyway be highly unlikely to wear smog masks at the Games.

"Probably not - I doubt whether it would be advantageous and I think I would feel uncomfortable wearing one,'' he said when asked if he would be willing to wear one.

"I am sure you may get local runners using them and I suppose if the physiologists say they are advantageous, I might consider it.

"But for the moment, I have to say my answer is 'no'.''

Clegg insists he is willing to investigate all avenues to make British athletes as competitive as possible at the Games.

He told The Times: "This is a competitive issue. We are in the business of trying to win medals here and beat our competitors.

"We are all hopeful that the Chinese authorities will have addressed this issue by August so the athletes are not put in a position where the measures we have put in place have to be deployed.

"But we are in the business of providing our athletes with competitive advantage. We need to put in place whatever strategies are appropriate to ensure that we give our athletes the best chance of delivering.''

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