LAUSANNE (Switzerland), Jan 17: Three Russian rowers each received two-year bans on Thursday for using prohibited intravenous injections at last year’s World Rowing Championships.

Alexander Litvintchev, Evgeny Luzyanin and Ivan Podshivalov were banned by the International Rowing Federation (FISA) even though none of the substances they injected were illegal. The ban is backdated to Aug 27, 2007.

In August, three of their Russian team-mates – Vladimir Varfolomeev, Denis Moiseev and Svetlana Fedorova – were banned for using the same doping method.

The six investigations were based on DNA analysis of blood traces on intravenous infusion equipment discovered in a garbage bin outside the Russian team’s hotel in July.

“We hope that this is a clear message that the sport of rowing will not accept use of substances or methods that create unfair conditions and/or threaten the health of our rowers,” FISA chief Matt Smith said.—AP