Lupita González, silver medallist in the women's 20km race walk at the Rio 2016 Games, has been banned for four years for doping ©Getty Images

Mexico’s world and Olympic 20km race walk silver medallist María Guadalupe González  – better known as Lupita González – has been banned for four years after testing positive for steroids.

In its latest update, the Athletics Integrity Unit, which prosecutes cases for the International Association of Athletics Federations, lists the Mexican walker as being banned from November 16 after tests showed the presence in her sample of trenbolone and epitrenbolone.

González’s results have been disqualified from October 17 this year, which means she will keep her silver medals from the Rio 2016 Games and London 2017 World Championships.

The 30-year-old from Mexico City will also retain her distinction of being the only woman to win consecutive 20km titles at the IAAF World Race Walking Cup, having earned gold in Rome on May 7, 2016 and Taicang, in China on May 5, 2018.   

Mexico's multiple race walk medallist Lupita González has the right to appeal against her four-year doping ban ©AIU
Mexico's multiple race walk medallist Lupita González has the right to appeal against her four-year doping ban ©AIU

González is believed to have argued that she ingested trenbelone from infected meat.

When her second, B sample was confirmed as positive in December she received widespread support from Mexican athletes across a number of sports.

South Africa’s 28-year-old triple jumper Reneilwe Aphane, who won the national title and set a personal best of 16.75m in 2017, has been banned for three years and six months from February 28, 2018 for the presence and use of a prohibited substance, clomiphene.