Sailing champ banned for cocaine

America's Cup winner Simon Daubney has been banned for two years after testing positive for cocaine, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ruled.

New Zealander Daubney, who was a trimmer on Swiss-backed holders Alinghi, tested positive for metabolites of cocaine after a test in June 2007 but was cleared by a five-man America's Cup jury in Sept. 2007. The decision to exonerate Daubney was recognised by the Swiss Olympic Committee before being appealed to CAS by world anti-doping body WADA.

CAS ruled in Lausanne that America's Cup organisers had not adopted rules which are consistent with the World Anti Doping Code.

CAS, however, acknowledged that Daubney had resigned from Alinghi and put his sailing career on hold since July 14, 2007 and dated the ban from that date.

Daubney denied any knowledge of wrongdoing and claimed someone had spiked his drink after Alinghi beat Team New Zealand 5-2 to retain the Cup in July, 2007.

CAS said the result would stand.

The next America's Cup regatta is still on hold after Alinghi became involved in a legal wrangle with rival American outfit BMW Oracle, who are seeking to become the official challenger of record.