Posted at 6:27 a.m., Friday, January 25, 2008
Running: Turkey champ gets lifetime ban for doping
Associated Press
ISTANBUL, Turkey — Former European 1,500-meter champion Sureyya Ayhan of Turkey received a lifetime ban today for a second doping violation.The Turkish Athletic Federation also gave a two-year ban to Yucel Kop, Ayhan's coach and husband. Ayhan and Kop have denied wrongdoing and said they would appeal.
The ruling by the federation came after Ayhan tested positive in the United States in September during training for the Beijing Olympics. The banned substance was not identified.
In 2005, Ayhan was suspended for two years for a drug-test violation. She won the European title in 2002 and finished second at the 2003 world championships.
