Irish sprinter Steven Colvert has been given a two-year ban for doping.
The Irish Sports Council and Athletics Ireland have confirmed that the former Irish 200m champion has committed a doping violation after his sample showed traces of recombinant EPO.
Colvert vigorously denied that he had doped when the test results were first revealed in June 2014 but he has now been banned from competition until June of next year.
In a statement, the Irish Sports Council said: "Athletics Ireland and the Irish Sports Council jointly announce that the Irish Sport Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel determined that athlete Steven Colvert has committed an anti-doping rule violation.
"Steven Colvert, a sprinter, has been sanctioned by a period of ineligibility of 2 years commencing on the 17th June 2014 - the date on which he was provisionally suspended, subject to rights of appeal within 21 days of today's date under the Irish Anti-Doping Rules. In an out of competition test carried out on 20th May 2014, he provided a sample which tested positive for the presence of a prohibited substance, recombinant erythropoietin (rEPO).
"The hearing was held on under Article 8 (Disciplinary Process) of the 2009 Irish Anti-Doping Rules and this announcement is made pursuant to Article 15 (Public Disclosure) of the Rules."
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