World Mountain Running Champion Tests Positive For Doping

ROME (AP) — World mountain running champion Elisa Desco has tested positive for doping.

The Italian athletics federation says Thursday that Desco failed a doping test on Sept. 6, the day she won her world title in Campodolcino in northern Italy. The federation did not name the drug.

Desco’s invitation to the world half marathon championships Sunday in Birmingham, England, was immediately revoked.

Pending testing of a backup “B” sample, Desco could be stripped of her title and face a ban of up to two years.