Former Paralympic champion Para powerlifter Paul Kehinde has been banned for 30 months by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) for committing an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV).

The IPC said in a statement on Monday that Kehinde who won gold at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games in the Men’s up to 65kg, returned an adverse analytical finding (AAF) for prohibited substances in a urine sample provided out-of-competition on 9 March 2020.

The substances are hydrochlorothiazide and its metabolite and amiloride all of which are included on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2020 Prohibited List under the class S5 Diuretics and Masking Agents.

As a result of his failed tests, Kehinde will be ineligible for competition from 9 March 2020 to 8 September 2022, the IPC said, adding that the athlete’s results obtained from the date the sample was collected will also be disqualified, with all resulting consequences, including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes.

IPC Anti-Doping Director James Sclater noted that Kehinde could have avoided the ban if he had followed prescribed rules for Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs), an indication Kehinde’s failure was more down to ignorance than deliberate malfeasance.

“This case may have been avoided if the athlete had followed the rules for Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) and verified that his prescribed medication was prohibited, Sclater said.

“The IPC would like to strongly remind all athletes who require the use of a prohibited substance or method, for a diagnosed medical condition, to apply for a TUE in accordance with the WADA ISTUE requirements.”