Kop gets lifetime ban after CAS reject appeal

TURKEY'S former 1500m European champion Sureyya Ayhan Kop has been given a lifetime ban for doping by the Court of Arbitration for sport, but coach and husband Yucel Kop has seen his suspension lifted.

ONE IN ONE OUT: Sureyya Ayhan Kop is handed lifetime ban but husband Yucel sees his suspension lifted (Getty Images) 

CAS have rejected Ayhan's appeal and overturned a decision by Turkey's sports arbitration committee in May to reduce her penalty to four years.

The 31-year-old had been banned for life in January by the Turkish Athletics Federation after she failed the second drugs test of her career in September 2007.  Traces of anabolic steroids methandienone and stanozolol were found in her sample.

Ayhan has denied knowingly taking the substances but having been banned for two years in 2004, for breaking drug testing regulations, CAS have decided to reject her appeal.

"Considering that the second violation was committed in 2007, namely a substantial period of time after the athlete had received notice of the first violation in the year 2004, the conditions for admitting a multiple violation under IAAF Rule 40.6 are fulfilled and a life ban has been ordered," read a CAS statement.

But the statement also went on to say the ban imposed on her husband would be lifted as there was no evidence he had violated any anti-doping regulations.