European champion Golovkina banned

European 5,000-metre champion Olga Golovkina is the 32nd Russian athlete to be banned for doping violations since January.

European 5,000-metre champion Olga Golovkina has been banned for two years after failing a doping test.

The 26-year-old Russian was suspended for failing a drug test taken during an out-of-competition period on July 16, Ria Novosti news agency reported on Saturday.

The athlete's blood sample contained an anabolic steroid, it quoted the All-Russian Athletics Federation as saying.

Golovkina's ban will run to August 1, 2015, meaning she will not be able to defend her title won in Helsinki last year.

At the London Olympics last year, Golovkina finished ninth.

According to the federation, she is the 32nd Russian track and field athlete to be suspended for doping violations since January 1.