December 5, 2001	Wednesday	Ramazan 19, 1422

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STOCKHOLM, Dec 4 - Ex-100 metres hurdles world and Olympic champion Ludmila Engquist, who switched to bobsleigh in 1999, has been banned for two years following a positive drugs test in October.

It is the second ban involving steroids in her career.

The Swedish bobsleigh federation chairman Hans Holmer, announcing the latest suspension, told the Swedish news agency TT on Monday: “I consider the case closed.”

Russian-born Engquist embarked on a second career in bobsleigh racing after retiring from athletics two years ago.

But she admitted early last month having used steroids, telling Swedish TV: “I have taken forbidden substances. It was incredibly stupid.”

The B sample confirmed traces of a metabolite of the anabolic steroid methandienone.

Holmer said: “It’s good that she has told us how much she has taken. We have no more questions.”

Engquist failed a drugs test in Lillehammer, Norway in October but opted to speak out soon afterwards before the test results could be made public.

Engquist, a Swedish citizen since 1996, became a national heroine after winning athletics gold at the Atlanta Summer Games and another world championship in 1997.