By David Gold

Anti-doping laboratoryAugust 11 - European champion Luis Carlos Martins Goncalves of Portugal has been suspended for two years by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) for an anti-doping violation.

Goncalves tested positive for Methylhexaneamine as the result of a drugs test carried out at the IPC Athletics European Championships in Stadskanaal in the Netherlands in June.

At the competition, Goncalves won two gold medals, in the T12 200 metre and 400m disciplines, which were also Portugal's only two golds of the Championship.

The 24-year-old did not ask for a hearing and instead offered a profuse apology and accepted full responsibility.

He said that he had taken a food supplement to alleviate the effects of feeling tired and did not realise what was contained in the product.

"It was never my intention to misrepresent the results or improve my performance," he said.

"I deeply regret my error.

"Never, at any moment of my sporting career, have I wanted to take some illegal substance because it is not part of my sports ethics.

"Again, and with a deep sense of regret, I apologise for all the facts mentioned above and of which I am entirely responsible."

As well as having his qualification for the London 2012 Paralympics revoked, the gold medals he won in the T 12 200m and 400m will go to Russia's Fedor Trikolich and Turkey's Semih Deniz respectively.

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