French Olympic taekwondo champion Laurin banned over 'no-shows'

French Olympic taekwondo champion Althea Laurin has been suspended for 20 months after three doping control 'no-shows', the French anti-doping agency said on Thursday.

The 24-year-old, who won her Olympic gold on home soil two years ago, has accepted her punishment, which runs until October 9, 2027, the AFLD agency said. All her results obtained between September 23 last year and February 9 have been annulled. 

Laurin had failed three times in a 12-month period to meet her location obligations, the agency said. "This is a difficult time to go through. When you face this situation, it's difficult to accept," she told RMC radio station.

"Having such a long break will obviously affect my career." Laurin was France's first Olympic champion in taekwondo and once her ban ends, she will face a race against time to qualify for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

She had blamed two of her 'no-shows' on a faulty intercom at her home, RMC said.