British shot putters Jamie Stevenson and Kieren Kelly have been banned for two years for violating anti-doping rules.

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The athletes, who are both coached by double Commonwealth champion and former World's Strongest Man Geoff Capes, refused to take out-of-competition tests during a meeting at Loughborough University.

The pair, ranked third and fifth in the British rankings last year, claimed the facilities in which they were asked to provide samples were unclean and admitted the charge of failing to provide samples.

Their suspension is backdated to February 8th 2010 but both will be automatically banned from the London 2012 Olympics under British Olympic Association regulations.

"This must serve as a warning to all athletes, both funded and non-funded, of the importance of co-operating with UK Anti-Doping at all times without exception," said UKA chief executive Niels de Vos.

"We will continue to work with UK Anti-Doping to ensure absolute compliance with our anti-doping commitment that athletics must be and must be seen to be a drug free sport in the UK."

Last month Rachel Wallader, another athlete coached by Capes, was provisionally suspended by UK Athletics after testing positive for a minor stimulant, methylhexanamine.

Capes claimed he was to blame for Wallader's failure, admitting he provided her with a nutritional supplement called Endure, which he had been assured by the drug company was perfectly legal.