Irish 200m sprinter Steven Colvert has been banned for two years after testing positive for EPO.
Colvert tested positive for recombinant erythropoietin (EPO) in an out of competition test carried out on 20 May 2014.
He protested his innocence and asked for his 'B' sample to be tested, however Athletics Ireland and the Irish Sports Council today confirmed the positive test and that the ban would stand.
The 2014 Irish 200m champion has now been banned for two years, backdated to 17 June 2014, the date on which he was provisionally suspended.
He took to Twitter after the announcement was made public, once more denying any involvement in doping and claiming that the ban was a "miscarriage of justice".
[1] Today is a sad day. After spending the last year trying to clear my name of the doping allegations, a decision has been made.
— Steven Colvert (@Colvert_) July 16, 2015
[2] Unfortunately the panel has found me guilty of doping. Something I have always been strongly against and will continue to stand against.
— Steven Colvert (@Colvert_) July 16, 2015
[3] Miscarriages of justice come in many forms, unfortunately this time it has involved me.
— Steven Colvert (@Colvert_) July 16, 2015
[4] I will be returning to the sport I love in September with my head held high safe in the knowledge that I have never doped.
— Steven Colvert (@Colvert_) July 16, 2015
[5] I would like to thank everyone whom has supported me in the last year. Unfortunately the result is not the one we were looking for.
— Steven Colvert (@Colvert_) July 16, 2015
[6] I know this result is just as disappointing for the supporters of Irish Athletics as it is for me.
— Steven Colvert (@Colvert_) July 16, 2015
[7] Once again i'd like to thank anyone who has supported me up until this point and to those that will continue to do so. Steven
— Steven Colvert (@Colvert_) July 16, 2015
