UK Anti-Doping has today confirmed that shot putter Mark Edwards has been handed a three-year suspension following an anti-doping rule violation.

Edwards tested positive for Testosterone and a metabolite of the prohibited substance Clostebol in September 2010 and was provisionally suspended from all competition on 3 November 2010. Mr Edwards is banned from participation in sport from 3 November 2010 to 2 November 2013.

Mr Edwards, who runs a sports therapy business and attended the Paralympic Games in 2008 as a Performance Coach, will now have until 28 June 2011 to appeal the decision. The full written decision can be found on the UK Anti-Doping website at https://www.ukad.org.uk/violations.

UK Anti-Doping Chief Executive Andy Parkinson said:  “This is the first time in the UK we have successfully argued for an increase to the standard two-year sanction due to aggravated circumstances. The three-year suspension should send a strong message to anyone looking to dope in the UK and I hope gives clean athletes the confidence that we will aggressively pursue those who we think are cheating.

“Mr Edwards was tested as part of UK Anti-Doping’s Pre-Commonwealth Games out-of-competition testing programme. This case shows the importance of our major event strategy and our desire for there to be nowhere to hide for athletes seeking to dope in the UK. We will continue to work tirelessly to protect the rights of clean athletes in the run up to London 2012 and beyond.”