RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, May 15. ACCORDING to a press release posted by the Brazilian Swimming Federation, the FINA Doping Panel has elected to suspend Rebeca Gusmao for two years.
The suspension dates back to a doping test from July 13, 2007 at the Pan American Games held in Rio de Janeiro.
According to Bestswimming.com.br blogger and Swimming World correspondent Alex Pussieldi, Gusmao is suspended until July 11, 2009 and rules out Gusmao's participation in the 2008 Beijing Games.
Pussieldi also reports that Gusmao believes there is still a chance to appeal the verdict to the Court of Arbitration of Sport and be able to become eligible for the Olympics by August.
Gusmao's case has been ongoing as the two-year suspensions should have been affirmed back in January, as previously reported by Swimming World.