Moscow - Russian swimmer Natalia Lovtsova has been banned for two and a half years for doping, Russia's anti-doping agency RUSADA announced Saturday.
"The Russian Swimming Federation has banned Lovtsova for a violation of the anti-doping code for two and a half years from November 30, 2012," the agency stated on its website.
Lovtsova was a member of Russia's freestyle relay squad at last year's London Olympics.
It was a second doping ban in the space of just two days for Russian swimmers.
Earlier this week another Russian swimmer, 2009 European short course backstroke champion Ksenia Moskvina was also banned for six years for repeated doping violations.