Sepeng banned for two years for doping

CAPE TOWN, May 22: South Africa's former Olympic 800 metres silver medallist Hezekiel Sepeng has been banned from all competition for two years, Athletics South Africa (ASA) announced today.

Sepeng, who won the silver medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, was tested out of season in his hometown of Potchefstroom, north west of Johannesburg, in February 2005.

The findings of the test were made public in May last year, when it was revealed that his sample contained traces of the steroid Norandrosterone.

Sepeng had denied any wrongdoing and claimed there were ''exceptional circumstances,'' without revealing the details in public.

''Sepeng's case was referred to the IAAF's Doping Review Board in January by ASA's disciplinary committee for consideration of exceptional circumstances,'' a statement from the ASA said.

''However it found that no exceptional circumstances existed.

Therefore, the ASA Disciplinary Committee, having considered the determination of the IAAF's Doping Review Board, have found Sepeng guilty of having committed a doping offence.

''The sanction is a two-year period of ineligibility from the date upon which Sepeng was provisionally suspended by ASA, namely May 11 2005 until May 10 2007.'' The ruling could effectively end the career of the 31-year-old athlete.

REUTERS