France’s Gezzar hit with 10-year doping ban

French steeplechase runner Nour-Eddine Gezzar has been handed a 10-year ban for doping offences, the French Athletics Federation (FFA) announced on Tuesday. Gezzar, 32, tested positive for the banned blood-booster EPO during the French Championships in Angers in June. He had previously been banned for two years in 2006 after testing positive for both the anabolic steroid nandrolone and finasteride, a banned diuretic, which explains the severity of his second ban. Gezzar has 10 days in which to launch an appeal, the FFA said. He was initially given a provisional suspension by both the FFA and world governing body the IAAF, which prevented him from competing at the London Olympics.