Athletics: Hunter-Galvan banned from London Olympics

The NZOC have ruled out selecting disgraced athlete Liza Hunter-Galvan for the 2012 Olympics. Photo / Getty Images

Disgraced New Zealand athlete Liza Hunter-Galvan will be ineligible to compete at the 2012 Olympic Games, the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) has ruled.

United States-based marathon runner Hunter-Galvan was suspended for two years after testing positive for banned substance erythropoietin (EPO), with the ban to finish in May 2011.

However, the NZOC has added an extension, applying its policy for drug violations to rule her out of contention for selection to the Games in London 14 months later.

An NZOC statement said it takes a "very strong stance" against the use of performance enhancing drugs.

"The NZOC anti-doping policy states that any athlete found by an anti-doping disciplinary panel to have committed an anti-doping rule violation for the use of prohibited substances is ineligible for selection into an NZOC team for the next Games following the date of expiry of the period of ineligibility imposed by the Sports Tribunal.

"This applies to both Commonwealth and Olympic Games."

Hunter-Galvan, 40, will be denied the chance to compete at a third successive Olympics after winning places in the both the 2004 and 2008 teams on appeal following initial non-selection.

- NZPA