Russian Swimmer Suspended For Doping

A Russian swimmer who took part in the 2012 Olympic Games has been banned from competition for doping.

In a statement on March 16, the Russian antidoping agency Rusada said Natalya Lovtsova has been banned for 2 1/2 years.

Lovtsova, 24, was a member of the Russian 4x100-meter freestyle relay team at last year's London Olympics.

Earlier in the week, Rusada banned Ksenia Moskvina, the European record-holder in the 100-meter backstroke, for six years after she failed a drug test for the second time in three months.

Yekaterina Andreyeva, who won silver at the 2010 Youth Olympics and was also a member of the Russian 4x100-meter freestyle relay team in London, was banned for 18 months for a breach of antidoping regulations.

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters