The 51-year-old won two Paralympic gold medals at New York in 1984 representing Britain before switching to Ireland. 

He represented them in cycling at London 2012 and won a bronze medal in the tandem road time trial. 

Brown has now been banned by Cycling Ireland after he failed to provide a sample for a test at his home in the United Kingdom in February. 

According to a document published by Sport Ireland, Brown violated Article 2.3 of the body's Anti-Doping laws.

Article 2.3 states: "Evading sample collection, or without compelling justification, refusing or failing to submit to sample collection after notification as authorised under these rules or other anti-doping rules."

His suspension has been backdated to February 24 - the day he refused to give the test and is due to end on August 23 in 2018.

Brown claimed that the reason he did not provide a sample was that he had resigned from the squad one day previously because of the team's failure to find him a suitable pilot.

The Irishman also said that he was required to have a witness present as he is partially sighted, but one was not available.

Brown could have faced a four-year ban, but his degree of fault and the seriousness of the violation mean that it was reduced.

During his career he has competed in five winter and summer Paralympics across a range of sports.

An experienced Paralympian, Brown has won two athletics gold medals for Great Britain in the 800 and 1500 metres at New York 1984. 

In a statement on their website, Cycling Ireland have conveyed their discontent at Brown's actions.

"Cycling Ireland are disappointed that an Irish cyclist, and in particular a rider with the experience of Brown, would break the anti-doping rules," it read.

"Education is provided to all athletes, especially to those in the high performance system.

"Cycling Ireland has zero tolerance for any violation of the anti-doping rules by cyclists."