Lausanne, Jan 16: The International Fencing Federation has banned French athlete Loic Attely for 10 months for a doping offense at the sport`s world championships last year. A federation spokeswoman told The Associated Press Wednesday the ban would be backdated to June 16, 2002, allowing Attely to return to competition next April 16. He also was fined 500 euros (dollars) by the federation`s disciplinary commission, she said.
Attely tested positive for nandrolone at a World Cup competition in Caracas, Venezuela, in June. The fencer won silver in the foil event at the tournament. After failing the test Attely denied he was a drug cheat and French fencing federation officials cast doubt on the positive result, saying it was likely due to a laboratory error.
According to federation regulations the normal ban for doping offenses is two years. However, in a statement the governing body said that "exceptional circumstances justify a reduction of the sanction."
Bureau Report