The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) revealed that Assouggane tested positive for the anabolic steroid nandrolone in a urine sample he provided on October 18 last year which he gave during the IPC Powerlifting Khorfakkan International Championships in Khorfakkan, United Arab Emirates.

This substance is included on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2011 prohibited list under the anabolic agents category and is consequently prohibited under the IPC anti-doping code.

"In accordance with the IPC anti-doping code, Youssef Assouggane will serve a two year suspension for the offence beginning on November 4, 2011, the date from which he was notified of his anti-doping rule violation," said an IPC statement.

"All results obtained from the date of the competition on October 18, 2011 and onwards, will be disqualified with all the resulting consequences including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes.

"A financial sanction was also imposed on the athlete.

"The principle of strict liability applies to anti-doping matters.

"Therefore, each athlete is strictly liable for the substances found in his or her sample, and that an anti-doping rule violation occurs whenever a prohibited substance (or its metabolites or markers) is found in his or her bodily specimen, whether or not the athlete intentionally or unintentionally used a prohibited substance or was negligent or otherwise at fault."

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