Having announced after the 1988 Olympics that she would retire from the javelin throw, Sanderson made an unexpected return to competition in 1989, at the McVitie's International Challenge, where she finished third. She was also third at the 1989 European Cup despite still being short of fitness. At the 1990 Commonwealth Games, a throw of was enough for Sanderson to retain her title. At the 1990 European Athletics Championships Sanderson finished twelfth, but was later upgraded to eleventh after Felicia Ţilea was disqualified. Aged 35, Sanderson won at the 1991 European Cup, ahead of a field that included the reigning world record holder Felke.