Former 800m world champion Arzamasova gets provisional ban for doping

FILE PHOTO: Marina Arzamasova of Belarus holds her national flag after winning the women's 800 metres final at the 15th IAAF Championships at the National Stadium in Beijing, China August 29, 2015. REUTERS/David Gray

(Reuters) - Former 800 metres world champion Marina Arzamasova of Belarus has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for a banned substance, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) said on Tuesday.

The 31-year-old, who won the 800 metres gold at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, has tested positive for LGD-4033, a substance with similar properties to anabolic steroids that is prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

"The AIU confirms a provisional suspension against Belarusian middle-distance runner Marina Arzamasova for a violation of the IAAF Anti-Doping Rules," it said in a tweet.

FILE PHOTO: Marina Arzamasova of Belarus holds up her gold medal as she poses on the podium after the women's 800m event during the during the 15th IAAF World Championships at the National Stadium in Beijing, China, August 29, 2015. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj/File Photo

The AIU oversees integrity issues in athletics including doping on behalf of the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF), the sport's global governing body.

(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Hugh Lawson)