Greek long distance runner Irini Kokkinariou had her doping ban doubled to four years after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) appeal, the IAAF announced on Tuesday.
Kokkinariou, 31, one of the first athletes accused of doping by the IAAF based on her biological passport, had initially been banned for two years by the Greek Athletics Federation (SEGAS).
The IAAF appealed to the CAS to increase the two-year ban based on Kokkinariou’s abnormal blood profile from 2009 to 2011.
The case was the first taken by the IAAF involving the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP), and the CAS agreed with the world athletics’ body that there were aggravating circumstances which merited an increased ban.
“The Sole Arbitrator agreed with the IAAF that Ms Kokkinariou’s blood profile was conclusive evidence of the repeated use of blood doping over a protracted period of time as well as her engagement in a carefully planned doping scheme,” the IAAF said.
The ban will run from October 27, 2011, and SEGAS were ordered to pay the costs of the appeal.
(source: supersport)
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