Brazilian Olympic hopeful handed four-year doping ban

Brazilian marathon runner and Rio 2016 Olympic hopeful Sueli Pereira has been banned for four years for doping.

Pereira, 39, was found to have traces of the human growth hormone EPO in her system during doping tests in December and January, officials said on Wednesday, reports Xinhua.

EPO, or erythropoietin, boosts oxygen levels in the body by increasing the production of red blood cells.

Pereira had achieved the Olympic qualifying time for the marathon.

She is expected to lodge an appeal with Brazil's sports tribunal.