Hungarian Olympic champion Pars handed doping ban

Hungarian hammer thrower Kristian Pars, a gold-medal winner at the 2012 London Olympics, has been banned until July next year after failing a doping test, Hungarian media reported today.

Pars, 36, tested positive for use of a banned non-performance-enhancing substance after a routine check in January.

The substance was found in the athlete's urine sample, said a statement by the Hungarian Athletics Federation (MASZ).

"I am incredibly ashamed for what happened," said the 36-year-old Pars on Tuesday after receiving the ban.

Officials accepted his argument that the substance entered his system during the off-season and that it was not performance enhancing.

"I will never be able to forgive myself," said the athlete, who also won European gold in 2012 and 2014.

"It's a sad day for Hungarian athletics, but I am convinced that he has learned from his mistakes," said MASZ head Marton Gyulai.

The period of the ban means Pars could still compete at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.