French marathoner banned 1 year for missing doping tests

Published Jan. 7, 2015 6:30 a.m. ET

foxsports

PARIS (AP) French marathoner James Theuri has been suspended for one year by the French anti-doping agency (AFLD) after missing three out-of-competition tests.

The Kenyan-born Theuri, granted citizenship in 2006, was one of the best French marathon runners with a personal best of 2 hours, 10 minutes, 39 seconds.

AFLD said Theuri failed to provide his whereabouts for seven months, and was suspended to Dec. 23.

The French athletics federation initially decided against suspending the 36-year-old Theuri after considering he missed the tests through negligence, but AFLD appealed the decision.