Muthoka banned

Kenyan 400m runner Elizabeth Muthoka has been banned for two years after testing positive for prohibited drug nandrolone, Athletics Kenya (AK) officials said on Tuesday.

Muthoka, who qualified for the Beijing Olympics as the only woman sprinter in the Kenyan team, was dropped after failing the dope test at the national championships in Nairobi in June.

AK secretary David Okeyo said six athletes including Muthoka were tested during the championships but only the sample belonging to the 24-year-old, who set a new 400m national record, returned positive.

"Muthoka accepted she took the drug to lower the blood haemoglobin," Okeyo told reporters.

NAIROBI, Tuesday, AFP