The ruling means that Radhi, who will now be stripped of the medal he won in China, will be unable to compete at the London 2012 Paralympics as his ban lasts until December 17, 2012.

An IPC statement said: "Radhi returned an adverse analytical finding for 19-norandrostenedione and its metabolite 19-norandrosterone (an exogenous anabolic androgenic steroid) in a urine sample provided on December 13, 2010, after the men's 48kg powerlifting competition at the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Para Games in China, an event he won a silver medal in.

"Such substances are included in the 2010 Prohibited List and consequently prohibited under the IPC Anti-Doping Code, which has adopted the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC).

"Upon notification, Mustafa Radhi informed the IPC that he did not have a therapeutic use exemption to explain the adverse analytical finding and that he accepted the anti-doping rule violation.

"In accordance with the IPC Anti-Doping Code, Mustafa Rahdi will serve a two-year suspension for the offence dating from December 17, 2010, the date of the provisional suspension.

"All results obtained from December 13, 2010 will be disqualified with all the resulting consequences including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes."

The original bronze medallist in the men's 48kg category, India's Farman Basha, will now receive the silver and Simay Eay of Lao PDR, who finished fourth, will get the bronze.

The IPC statement continued: "According to the IPC Anti-Doping Code, it is each athlete's personal duty to ensure that no prohibited substances enter his or her body.

"Furthermore, each athlete is responsible for any prohibited substances found in their bodily specimen, regardless of how it entered their body.

"As a signatory of the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC), the IPC remains committed to a doping-free sporting environment at all levels.

"The IPC, together with the International Federations and the National Paralympic Committees, established the IPC Anti-Doping Code to prevent in the spirit of fair play, doping in sport for Paralympic athletes.

"The IPC Anti-Doping Code is in conformity with the general principles of the WADC."

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