BANGKOK, July 18 — Thai Badminton star Ratchanok Intanon broke down in tears and spoke of her relief today after being cleared of doping, ending fears her Olympic dreams had been scuppered.

The 21-year-old shuttler, who is beloved in Thailand and remains the kingdom’s best chance for a medal in Rio, tested positive for a banned substance in May after a tournament in China.

But the Badminton World Federation (BWF) today cleared her after ruling that the substance had been administered to treat a tendon injury and was allowed.

"I was confident in my innocence and I am glad that I received justice. I will practise and hope to bring a medal back for Thais,” she told reporters at a press conference in Bangkok.

"The Olympics is my dream,” she added, before bursting into tears.

Rumours of the positive test result first surfaced in the Thai media last week, leaving fans on tenterhooks.

In a statement published today, the BWF said Ratchanok tested positive for triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid which is banned in most circumstances.

However if administered directly into a muscle tendon for medical reasons it is allowed under the BWF’s rules.

Thailand’s badminton player and Olympics hope Ratchanok Intanon speaks during a news conference at a hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, July 18, 2016.

"The panel concluded that because the route of administration of the substance in the medical treatment process was intratendinous—an authorised administration route—no violation of the regulations was committed,” the BWF said.

Patama Leeswadtrakul, president of the Badminton Association of Thailand, said doctors had been treating Ratchanok for pain in her right hand and back.

"We said it was used honestly to cure her injuries,” she told reporters.

The 21-year-old star has charmed the Thai public—who affectionately call her Nong May—with her girl-next-door demeanour despite the fame and riches of sporting success.

In 2013 she became the youngest ever world champion. She was briefly ranked number 1 after winning Singapore Open in April but has since slipped to fourth.

A medal favourite in Rio, she will carry the Olympic hopes of a country with few top-class athletes.

Thailand’s badminton player Ratchanok Intanon, who hopes to win gold at the Rio Olympics, takes a break during an afternoon training session at a gym in Bangkok, Thailand, June 22, 2016. Picture taken June 22, 2016.

She has caught the imagination of Thais as much for her rags to riches back story as on-court heroics.

Her parents are migrants to Bangkok from the country’s poor northeast who worked in menial jobs at a badminton centre on the outskirts of the city.

While they worked, Ratchanok played badminton unlocking her talent at the age of six.

In a recent interview with AFP in Bangkok she said she was "100 per cent confident” of bringing home a medal from the Rio Olympics. — AFP