Lovchev gets 4-year ban over doping abuse

Last December Lovchev, a world champion and record holder, was temporarily barred from competitions on the suspicion he was in breach of anti-doping rules.

His urine A-sample taken at the World Championships in Houston proved to contain traces of Ipamorelin - a substance that stimulates the production of growth hormones. Later, it was announced that his B-sample opened in Montreal, tested positive, too.

The IWF held hearings on the Lovchev case in Budapest on April 25-26.