Athletics: Belgian cross-country champion suspended

The IAAF has confirmed the three-year suspension of Belgian Mohammed Mourhit, a double world cross-country champion and holder of three European records, for failing a doping test.

The 31-year-old runner underwent an out-of-competition test on May 3 that showed the use of EPO, or erythropoietin, an illegal endurance-boosting substance.

Mourhit's Belgian federation proposed a three-year suspension, which has been confirmed by the IAAF.

Moroccan-born Mourhit, who is the holder of the European 3000m, 5000m and 10,000m records, plans to appeal against the sentence.

He became a Belgian national in July 1997.