Ukrainian heptathlete Blonska given life ban

KIEV (Reuters) - Ukrainian heptathlete Lyudmila Blonska was given a lifetime ban on Friday after testing positive for an anabolic steroid at the Olympics.

Blonska, 30, who was stripped of the heptathlon silver medal after finishing behind compatriot Nataliia Dobrynska in Beijing, tested positive for methyltestosterone on August 17.

The Ukrainian athletics federation (UAF) said on its official website ( www.flau.org.ua ) that Blonska was given the stiffest punishment because it was her second doping offence.

Blonska's coach and husband Serhiy Blonsky also received a life ban.

(Reporting by Alexander Lyubimov, writing by Gennady Fyodorov, editing by Tony Jimenez)