RIYADH — Saudi Arabian Anti-Doping Committee (SAADC) has banned two international athletes for violating anti-doping regulations.



Muhammad Shaween and long-distance runner Hussain Al-Hamdah were banned from taking part in local and international competitions after abnormalities were detected in their biological passports.



Shaween, who won men’s 1500m gold at the 2010 Asian Games, was given a three-year ban from Feb. 13, 2013, while Al-Hamdah, who was part of Saudi Arabia’s team at the London Olympic Games last year, was banned for two and a half years for the same offense from Feb. 15, 2013.  Any medal that Shaween has won since June 12, 2011 and Al-Hamdah since March 29, 2009 will be stripped since the blood test results began showing abnormalities from those dates.



The Saudi and international athletics federations were both notified of the SAADC’s decision and penalty.



The statement noted that this is the second violation for both athletes, who attended the committee’s sessions and were given a chance to defend themselves. — SPA/SG