"Hair analysis had yet indeed demonstrated the unique and tiny characters which suggest I was the victim of involuntary exposure.

"But I will fight until the end and go face to Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to challenge this decision and try to minimise the suspension."

Charline Van Snick tested positive following another medal winning performance at the 2013 World Championships in Rio...but strongly denies the allegations ©AFP/Getty Images




Van Snick will rely on the testimony of Jan Tytgat, Professor of Toxicology and Pharmacology from the University of Leuven, who has told the IJF Medical Commission his view that the Belgian "was exposed in an isolated and involuntary way" to the banned substance.

He claimed that two hair samples showed Van Snick had not taken cocaine between June 2011 and August 2013 but that a trace of the drug showed up for the period August 10 to October 10, although that was 200 times smaller than for a regular cocaine user.

An IJF spokesperson told insidethegames that a decision "had been made by the Executive Committee and that it was being forwarded to the national federation".

However, until the designated period of appeal is complete and the decision is finalised, no further comments could be made.

Although judo has faced comparatively few doping cases in comparison with various other Olympic sports, this is the second recent instance of an athlete being banned for using recreational drugs.

During London 2012, under 73kg judoka Nicholas Delpopolo of the United States was thrown out of the Games after testing positive for cannabis. 

He claimed at the time that he had inadvertently eaten food which he had not realised had been baked with the drug.

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