Detectives hunting the man who attacked an Olympic runner outside a Hamilton nightclub were quizzing a suspect last night.

Police arrested a 32-year-old Smith's Parish man on Saturday, three weeks after Zambian runner Charles Mulinga was knocked unconscious in a brawl.

Mulinga, 29, spent days in intensive care after suffering head wounds in the fight outside the Odyssey nightclub just after 2 a.m. on Monday, January 19.

He was later moved onto a general ward and ran up thousands of dollars in hospital fees.

Mulinga was out celebrating his win in the 10K during International Race Weekend when he was caught up in the melee on Front Street.

Earlier in the evening, he had picked up his winner's cheque and trophy at an awards dinner at Pier Six.

But witnesses claimed Mr. Mulinga lashed out at a woman outside Odyssey and was then punched by a man who was with her.

Other witnesses said Mr. Mulinga was set upon by a group of people.

A Police spokeswoman confirmed last night that a man was arrested and held overnight on Saturday for questioning.

She said: "No further details are available at this stage and it has not yet been decided whether or not he will be detained further.'' Police launched the probe after visiting Mr. Mulinga in hospital and speaking to several witnesses.

And a political row has also been brewing over who should pay Mr. Mulinga's medical fees.

The runner, who finally left the Island last week, racked up thousands of dollars in charges after a two-week stay in his $600-a-night hospital room.

His medical fees alone are thought to total more than $1,000.

Public Safety Minister Quinton Edness announced taxpayers would foot the bill and said the offer could not be withdrawn, even though some witnesses claimed Mr. Mulinga provoked the assault.

But Shadow Public Safety Minister Alex Scott said: "While we appreciate Mr.

Edness' intentions, he seems to have moved prematurely.'' Mr. Mulinga, speaking of the beating, said: "I didn't know that someone was coming up behind me and that's why someone hammered me.

"I just hit something and -- boom -- and from there I don't remember anything.

"I never pushed any woman away. I know I pushed some people away when I was walking who were coming to attack me.'' Initially, it was thought Mr. Mulinga would not press charges but he said he would push for Police action if the culprits were ever caught.

He also suggested his attackers picked on him because he was a foreigner and because of "the size of my bones''.

Mr. Mulinga had romped to victory in the 10K in a time of 30 minutes and 15 seconds, four seconds clear of second place.

He competed for Zambia at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 and also won the Bermuda Bank of Butterfield 10K in the same year.

His 1998 10K time was the second slowest winning time ever but had critics dumbfounded because of tough 30-knot winds around the course.