Bulgarian sprinter banned for two years

SOFIA (AFP) –

Ukraine’s Mariya Ryemyen competes near Bulgaria’s Inna Eftimova (left) in the women’s 60m qualifying round during the European athletics indoor championships at the Bercy Palais-Omnisport (POPB) in Paris, 2011. Eftimova will miss the 2012 Olympics after being banned for two years for doping, Bulgaria Athletics federation chief Dobromir Karamarinov said.

Bulgarian sprinter Inna Eftimova will miss the 2012 Olympics after being banned for two years for doping, Bulgaria Athletics federation chief Dobromir Karamarinov told the state BTA agency.

“The two-year ban will enter into force retrospectively from May 16,” Karamarinov told the agency.

Eftinova, 23, tested positive for the growth hormone somatotropin at the world championships in Daegu, South Korea, last August.

She had been set to compete over 100m and 200m, meaning the ban could also jeopardise the hopes of Bulgaria’s 4x100m relay team to qualify for the Games.