Brazilian cyclist Fernandes banned for 2 years

Photo: Jeff McIntosh/CP

SAO PAULO, Brazil — The Brazilian cycling federation says it has suspended national road race champion Marcia Fernandes for two years for doping, virtually ending her chances of competing in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The federation says the 23-year-old Fernandes, who’s also a member of Spain’s Bizkaia-Durango cycling team, tested positive for EPO at the Brazilian championships in June.

Also suspended for failing doping tests at the event were Brazil’s under-23 national road race champion, Nayara Gomes Ramos, and two other cyclers, Juliana Jacobs Renner and Patrick Gabriel Oyakaua.

The federation said Thursday that none of the athletes requested to have their "B" samples tested.

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