A member of the Slovenian 4x200m freestyle relay team that competed at the London 2012 Olympics has been sanctioned with a four-year ban for evading a doping test. ‘On October 14, 2016, the Slovenian Anti-Doping Organisation (SLOADO) tried to conduct a doping control test on the swimmer Špela Bohinc’, read a statement from the Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA). ‘The circumstances of this unsuccessful attempt constituted a violation of article 2.3 – evading sample collection. Following further investigation and a hearing in this matter, the SLOADO Disciplinary Board decided to impose on the athlete a sanction of four (4) years’ ineligibility period commencing on February 3, 2017 and ending at the conclusion of February 2, 2021 for her first anti-doping rule violation.’

SLOADO said that Bohinc had been sanctioned for breaching Article 7.3 of its anti-doping rules at an independent disciplinary commission hearing on 3 January. It said that it had attempted to collect a sample from Bohinc at the Olympic pool in the city of Kranj on 14 October last year.

‘Sportswoman Špela Bohinc has violated Article 7.3 of SLOADO’s anti-doping rules (avoiding giving a sample, refusal to give a sample or failure to deliver a sample)’, read a statement. ‘In accordance with Article 42.1 of the SLOADO anti-doping rules, a sanction of exclusion from sport for a period of four years has been imposed, commencing from 3 February 2017 (date of the decision). Sportswoman Špela Bohinc is also obliged to reimburse SLOADO €25,000 costs.’