Cross-country skiing-Johaug banned for 13 months for failing drug test

Feb 10 ( Reuters) - Cross-country skier and 2010 Olympic gold medallist Therese Johaug has been banned for 13 months by the Norwegian Olympic Committee after testing positive for clostebol, an anabolic steroid, in an out-of-competition test last September.

The suspension is back-dated to Oct. 18 last year, which means the 28-year-old, who has also won seven gold medals at the World Championships, will be eligible to compete at next year's Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

Johaug said the test was a result of her using a cream for her sunburned lips while training in Italy.

In a unanimous judgment, the committee found that Johaug had not intended to cheat but that she was still responsible for the presence of the substance in her system.

Johaug, whose legal team are studying the judgment before deciding whether or not to appeal, will be eligible to compete again on Nov. 18 this year. (Reporting by Philip O'Connor in Stockholm; Editing by Hugh Lawson)