Bans for Brazilian trio

The Brazilian Athletics Confederation have suspended three of their athletes for two years after they failed drugs tests for erythropoietin (EPO).

Bruno Tenorio, Jorge Celio Sena and Lucimara Silvestre produced positive samples during an out-of-competition test at Presidente Prudente near Sao Paulo on June 15.

The trio all declined the opportunity to have their ’B’ samples analysed, which would have confirmed whether the ’A’ samples had been correct.

Two other athletes, Josiane Tito and Luciana Franca, are still awaiting developments in their cases but have been excluded from the Brazil team for the World Championships, which begin next Saturday in Berlin.

Brazilian athletics is reeling from drug violations, with a sixth athlete, Lucimar Teodoro, testing positive for an illegal, unnamed substance last week.