Norwegian Olympic ski-jump champion faces four-month ban

Jan 28, 2009, 13:36 GMT

Oslo - Olympic ski-jump champion Lars Bystoel of Norway faces a four-month ban after testing positive for doping, the agency Anti-Doping Norway said Wednesday.

The agency's disciplinary body recommended the ban after a test conducted in connection with a competition at the end of November 2008 revealed traces of cannabis.

A panel in the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sport has yet to confirm the ban, a spokesman for Anti-Doping Norway told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

The disciplinary body's decision said that the suspension should be counted as of December 18, and at least two months should be served after a possible decision by the panel.

The 30-year-old ski-jumper earlier this month was quoted as telling the weekly gossip magazine Se og Hoer that he 'had tested positive' but said the substance was 'not performance enhancing and was not taken in connection with a competition.'

Bystoel won gold in the normal hill event at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, and also two bronze medals at the games.

During his career, Bystoel has battled with alcohol-related problems and at times has been suspended from the national team.