Stewart gets 2-year doping ban

Cape Town - Mountain biker Brandon Stewart received a ban of two-year ban for testing positive for testosterone, the SA Institute for Drug-Free Sport (Saids) said on Friday.

Saids CEO Khalid Galant said in a statement that the ban was effective from March 27 this year.

Stewart tested positive for the banned substance on July 7, 2013, during an out-of-competition test. He had previously applied for an exemption - known as a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) - to use testosterone as a form of treatment, but was denied by the Saids TUE Commission.

"Stewart appealed against his TUE denial to the Saids Appeal Board. The appeal was not successful. The Appeal Board supported the TUE Commission’s decision that a compelling medical condition did not exist to warrant the use of the banned steroid, testosterone," Galant said.

Stewart is a former Cape Epic African jersey rider and SA Cross Country champion.