Hungarian hammer thrower Kristian Pars, a gold-medal winner at the 2012 London Olympics, has been banned until July next year after failing a doping test, Hungarian media reported today.
Pars, 36, tested positive for use of a banned non-performance-enhancing substance after a routine check in January.
The substance was found in the athlete's urine sample, said a statement by the Hungarian Athletics Federation (MASZ).
"I am incredibly ashamed for what happened," said the 36-year-old Pars on Tuesday after receiving the ban.
Officials accepted his argument that the substance entered his system during the off-season and that it was not performance enhancing.
"I will never be able to forgive myself," said the athlete, who also won European gold in 2012 and 2014.
"It's a sad day for Hungarian athletics, but I am convinced that he has learned from his mistakes," said MASZ head Marton Gyulai.
The period of the ban means Pars could still compete at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
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