Female triathlon champion banned for doping

Chinese female triathlon champion Wang Hongni has been banned from competition for two years, after she tested positive for steroid use.

Wang, who is ranked 28th in the world, is the highest ranking Chinese triathlete, a China Daily report said. Her suspension, which the International Triathlon Union meted out, took effect on 6 October 2007 and will end on on 6 October 2009.

The 24-year old tested positive for anabolic-androgenic steroid, sources on the Chinese Triathlon Association told sohu.com. The steroids were found in both her A and B samples taken during an out-of-competition test on August 24, an AFP report said.

According to the same report, Wang, who won't be able to compete in the Beijing Olympics because of the ban, waived her right to a hearing and accepted the ban.

China Triathlon Association head Wang Jianguo was quoted by the news outlet as saying that "Wang Hongni's use of steroids stems from her own personal behavior," adding that it will not affect the plans of the team.

Wang, who won the triathlon gold medal at the 2006 Doha Asian Games and is a two-time Asian Cup champion, has become China's highest-profile doping case since the 2005 suspension of long-distance runner Sun Yingjie for steroid use.

China maintains, however, that the Beijing Olympics will be clean as 4,500 samples, the largest number in Olympic history, will be tested during the Games, CRI Nordic reported.