A POLICE investigation was launched following the death of former Olympic athlete and Christchurch mum Sanda Brakanska, an inquest heard.

The 37-year-old, who was found unresponsive at her Portfield Road home in January, had a black eye and other injuries at the time of her death, Assistant Dorset Coroner Brendan Allen was told.

There was also blood on a pillow and bedding in the washing machine at her home, the inquest heard.

But the investigation concluded there were no suspicious circumstances despite the cause of her death remaining undetermined.

Miss Brakanska's partner, named at the Bournemouth inquest only as Mr Smith, was arrested on suspicion of assault following her death and questioned by detectives. The inquest was told he had a history of violence.

A detailed forensic post mortem examination was carried out by Home Office pathologist Dr Basil Purdue who was unable to determine her cause of death.

But he said there was evidence that Miss Brakanska had taken cocaine shortly before her death and that the drug could have been responsible.

He told the inquest: "There was nothing to suggest that she had been a victim of an attack or restrained by anybody else.

"There may have been a form of sudden cardiac activity. It seems more likely that her death is down to cocaine."

The coroner heard paramedics were called to Miss Brakanska's address at 1pm on Sunday January 14 this year.

She was in cardiac arrest and Mr Smith was at the scene in a distressed state. He told them he believed she had taken drugs.

Paramedics fought to save her life but she was pronounced dead when taken to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

The inquest heard she and Mr Smith had argued on the previous night and that she had sent him a text message which said: "You have ruined my life, broke my heart, left me with nothing, like I knew you would."

Miss Brakanska's brother, Mikus, told how they grew up on a farm in Latvia and that his sister was a talented athlete.

She was identified as the best track and field athlete in Latvia and went to the Olympics before training in America.

But she became injured and returned to Latvia at the age of 20. She moved to Bournemouth in 2004 and had a nine-year-old daughter at the time of her death.

Recording a conclusion that Miss Brakanska's death was drug-related, Mr Allen said: "It is always difficult when the medical cause of death is undetermined.

"Because of the presence of cocaine I am satisfied on the balance of probabilities that the appropriate conclusion is Drug Related Death.