Robert Myring-Thomson has been handed a four-year sporting suspension ©UKAD

A British runner boasting an 800 metres personal best of just 2min 8.34sec has been handed a four-year ban from all sport after a package containing anabolic steroid Stanozolol was intercepted by the Border Force.

Robert Myring-Thomson, an athlete registered as a member of Guildford and Godalming Athletics Club, was subsequently interviewed by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD).

The package was seized on February 20 and contained an estimated quantity of 100 tablets of the banned substance.

It was registered to his home address.

UKAD ruled that the 32-year-old had committed two Anti-Doping Rule Violations, concerning the “Attempted Use of a Prohibited Substance” and “Possession of a Prohibited Substance”.

He is suspended from "all sport" from February 20, 2017 until February 19, 2021. 

“This case shows the importance of the work of our Intelligence and Investigations Team and their collaborative efforts with partners such as Border Force," said UKAD Director of Operations Pat Myhill.

"By intercepting this package, we were able to stop an athlete taking prohibited substances that could also have had negative side effects to his health.

“A key part of our anti-doping programme is the use of intelligence and information from a wide range of sources. 

"Any information related to doping activity - however small - can make a difference in our fight to protect clean sport."

Stanozolol was the anabolic steroid that Ben Johnson tested positive for at the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games ©Getty Images
Stanozolol was the anabolic steroid that Ben Johnson tested positive for at the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games ©Getty Images

Myring-Thomson is listed on the running database power of 10 as a distance runner who primarily competes over 800 and 1500m.

As a low-level athlete, he would not usually be subjected to drug testing.

He clocked his 800m best in a Woking Evening Open meeting in August 2015.

He also registered a 1500m best of 4.29.20 and a 10 kilometre road time of 38:37 during the same year.

Stanozolol was the drug that triggered Ben Johnson's positive test at the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games and is usually more associated with power-based sports.

It has also been responsible for many of the positive results arising from re-tested samples at the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic Games.

This is because of the use of new technology developed following information from former Moscow Laboratory director Grigory Rodchenkov allowing for the detection of the substance over a far longer period.