Italian Paralympian banned for using steroid

Published Mar. 13, 2014 2:47 p.m. ET

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SOCHI, Russia (AP) The International Paralympic Committee says an Italian ice sledge hockey player has been suspended for 18 months for failing a doping test at the Sochi Games.

Igor Stella was also fined 1,125 euros ($1,570) after a steroid was found in an out-of-competition urine sample provided three days before the Paralympics.

The IPC says a ''panel accepts it was not to enhance his performance.''