The French Anti-Doping Agency made the decision after the 29-year-old six-time French national champion failed to give details about his whereabouts and was twice absent from his house for out-of-competition tests between February and July this year.

The French Wrestling Federation appear unhappy with the decision, claiming he is "paying the high price" for a mistake he made when giving details of his whereabouts.

It added in a statement: "Steeve is the first victim of these breaches and deserves appropriate help in the coming months not to turn his sanction into a double punishment."

It also highlighted that Guenot had never tested positive for drugs despite being regularly targeted since he won Olympic gold six years ago.

Guenot, who has been suspended until July 30, 2015, will not appeal the decision, meaning he will not be able to compete at the European Games in Baku next June.

Steeve Guenot won gold at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games ©Getty Images



He is currently side-lined with a hip-injury but is hopeful that he can make a return for the World Championships in Las Vegas next September, the first stage in the qualification process for Rio.

Guenot became France's Olympic Champion men's Greco-Roman wrestling since Emile Poilvé in the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, when he took top honours in the men's 66 kilogram event in Beijing.

The Frenchman was hoping to defend his title four years later in London but was knocked out in the semi-finals by South Korea's eventual gold medallist Kim Hyeon-woo, and forced to settle for bronze.

He also took silver at the 2007 World Championships in Baku, and bronze at the 2006 European Championships, also in Baku.

He joins a growing list of athletes banned for missing rather than failing doping tests, with another notable example involving another Beijing 2008 champion, British 400 metres runner Christine Ohuruogu, who served a 12 month ban in 2006 and 2007 for missing three out of competition tests.  

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