Medal-winning Paralympic cyclist James Brown, 51, has been banned for two and a half years for a doping violation.
Sport Ireland and Cycling Ireland announced on Thursday that the London 2012 bronze medallist committed a violation of Article 2.3 of the Irish Anti-Doping Rules – evading sample collection, or without compelling justification, refusing or failing to submit to sample collection after notification as authorised under these rules or other anti-doping rules.
Brown admitted the violation and engaged in a consultation process with Sport Ireland regarding the appropriate period of his ineligibility.
The offence warrants a four-year ban but that was reduced to two years and six months based on Brown's degree of fault and the seriousness of the violation.
His suspension will begin on 24 February 2016 and end on 23 August 2018.
Brown and his sighted pilot Damien Shaw made the podium four years ago at the London Paralympics in the tandem road time trial.
He finished fourth for Ireland in the 4k pursuit event at the same Games and took ninth in the men's individual 1km time trial.
