| London 2012 Olympics: Bernice Wilson banned for four years after losing appeal ban from athletics following positive drugs test | ||||
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Sprinter Bernice Wilson, who made her international debut for Britain at the European Indoor Championships in Paris in March, has failed in her appeal against a four-year suspension handed out after a positive drugs test in June 2011. The Lincolnshire athlete, who tested positive for the anabolic steroid testosterone and the slimming aid clenbuterol during the Bedford International Games on June 12, was suspended for four years after first appearing before a disciplinary panel in July. Her punishment is the maximum permitted under the World Anti-Doping Agency code for a first time offence. According to the code, the mandatory two-year ban can be raised to four years if “the athlete or other person used or possessed multiple prohibited substances”. She issued a statement in July calling for UK Anti-Doping, who administer drug testing in the UK, to withdraw the case and open an internal investigation to determine the cause of the contamination. However, an independent National Anti-Doping Panel upheld the European Indoor 60m semi-finalist's four-year ban. "We have successfully argued for a four-year ban which demonstrates that UK Anti-Doping always seeks robust sanctions against athletes who look to cheat the system and betray those around them," UK Anti-Doping chief Andy Parkinson said: "This sends a strong message to anyone looking to dope in the UK. It gives clean athletes the confidence that we are working hard on their behalf, within the framework of the World Anti-Doping Code, to protect their right to compete in doping-free sport." |