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Hong Kong's Zhou banned for two years

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-09-05 19:35

KUALA LUMPUR - Hong Kong's former world number one Zhou Mi has received a two-year ban from the Badminton World Federation (BWF) after testing positive for a banned substance.

A hearing in Copenhagen on Aug. 23 found the former Asian Games champion had traces of the anabolic agent clenbuterol in her system following an out-of-competition test in June.

Zhou, the 2004 Olympic bronze medallist, claimed she had taken over-the-counter medication but had been unaware whether it contained any prohibited substance.

"This case shows that for a first offence, the punishment is severe," said the BWF's chief operating officer Thomas Lund.

"Athletes need to be aware that they are ultimately responsible for everything they ingest -- whether it is taken deliberately or inadvertently."