British sprinter Levine given 4-year ban for doping

British sprinter Nigel Levine, the world and European championship medals winner, has been given a four-year ban from all sport for breaking the anti-doping rules, UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) announced on Tuesday.

The UKAD says Levine tested positive in an out-of-competition test last year for the banned substance clenbuterol, which is an anabolic agent prohibited at all times under global anti-doping rules.

UKAD says Levine provided two samples of a supplement for testing, but one container was empty and the other was from a different batch to the one Levine said he'd taken.

The ban will be backdated to December 13, 2017 and run until December 12, 2021.

29-year-old Levine won the 4x400-meter relay at the 2014 European indoor championships, silver in the same event at the 2012 European championships, and relay bronze at the 2013 world championships. He was also part of Britain's 4x400 meters relay team that competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics.