ALMATY - Kazakhstan's former triathlon world champion Dmitry Gaag was handed a two-year ban by the International Triathletes Union (ITU) after failing a dope test earlier this year, local media reported on Tuesday.

The samples that were given for testing after the competitions in the United States in June by the 38-year-old triathlete contained the banned drug EPO.

The tests of the B sample also showed the presence of the illegal substance.

Gaag, who was fourth at the Sydney Olympic games and won the world championships in 1999, quit his career earlier this year after an injury dashed his hopes to participate in the Beijing Games.

However, the ITU demanded the athlete to return all of the prize money he was awarded for participation in the competitions after June 20, 2008.