Stephens hit with two-year ban after testing positive

Trinidadian quarter miler Ato Stephens has been slapped with a two-year doping ban by track and field\'s world governing body, the IAAF, according to a report on www.cananews.net.



The 30-year-old was one of seven international athletes banned for doping violations, the IAAF announced on its website Friday.



Stephens tested positive for three banned substances, Tamoxifen, Oxandrolone and Stanozolol, at the Ponce Grand Prix an IAAF and NACAC Area Permit Meeting, which took place in Ponce, Puerto Rico on May 16 this year.



\"We at the association knew about the results for sometime but we were not allowed to make them public under the IAAF regulations,\" said Peter Samuel, the public relations officer of the National Association of Athletic Administration.



\"Once an investigation is taking place the parties involved are asked not to make it public because it could affect the process outlined by the IAAF.\"



He also revealed that the investigation had been the main reason behind Stephens being overlooked for the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Championships as well as the World Championships.



\"When we were selecting the teams for CAC Championship and Worlds, we did it with the knowledge that he could have been found guilty of the charge,\" Samuels explained.



\"We could not take the risk of winning a medal or breaking a record at any of these championships and having it rescinded,\" he added.



A former national men\'s 400-metre champion, Stephens will now be prohibited from participating in any local or international competitions, including next year\'s Commonwealth Games.



Stephens has represented the country at several CAC Championships, claiming three individual silver medals and two relay medals (silver and bronze) in the 4x400- metre.