Lausanne: The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Friday sanctioned Russian 800-metre runner Mariya Savinova for four years over violations of anti-doping rules. Savinova was also stripped of the prizes and medals won between July 2010 and August 2013.

In the face of clear evidence, including her own biological passport, CAS confirmed that Savinova was using banned performance-enhancing substances from July 26, 2010, the eve of the European Games in Barcelona, until August 19, 2013, the day after the IAAF World Championships in Moscow, reports Efe.

For this reason, the court found her guilty of violating the rules of the International Association of Athletics Federation, relating to the use of prohibited substances or methods by an athlete.

Savinova, gold medalist in London 2012, world champion in Daegu (2011) and European champion in Barcelona (2010), was provisionally suspended in 2015.

--IANS