German Olympic champion banned for doping

Former Olympic champion Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle has been handed a two-year ban for doping at the Sochi Olympic Games in February.

The International Biathlon Union (IBU) said Wednesday the German "committed an in-competition doping offence at the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games", reported Xinhua.

Her two-year suspension will be counted from Feb 17, 2014, a statement by the IBU's anti-doping hearing panel said.

Sachenbacher-Stehle tested positive for stimulant methylhexanamine following the biathlon mass start Feb 17, in which she finished fourth.

The 33-year-old won cross-country Olympic gold in 2002 and 2010 before switching to biathlon.