Former Oxford Brookes University rowers Sybren Hoogland and Timothy Grant have been banned for two years after testing positive for stimulants following in-competition tests at the Ghent International Regatta in May.

UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) reported that Hoogland, 21, tested positive for benzoylcgonine (a metabolite of cocaine) and is banned until May 8, 2017.

Grant, 22, who previously rowed for the Great Britain U23 squad, tested positive for modafinil and is banned until 3 June 2017.

Modafinil is a central nervous stimulant, known for its ability to aid an increase in concentration and focus.

Nicole Sapstead, UKAD’s Chief Executive said:“Hoogland and Grant are young athletes who clearly made the wrong choices in their personal lives. The consequences of those choices is that they have damaged their sporting careers and their reputations.

“Both athletes have been through extensive anti-doping education but their decisions to ignore the advice they were given has resulted in two year bans from all sport."

A spokeman for Oxford Brookes said: "These are unconnected incidents and both were found to be unintentional breaches of anti-doping rules.

Grant is a full-time student at Oxford Brookes University.

Hoogland was a Foundation Degree student at one of Oxford Brookes’ Associate College Partners (ACPs) during the academic year 2013/14 and represented the rowing club as a guest rower at the event on which this case centred.

"Both rowers tested positive for substances which they took for reasons unrelated to rowing. 

"At no stage did Tim or Sybren seek to gain any advantage by the use of the prohibited substances involved. Each has admitted full responsibility for the substance being present in his system.

"Both rowers are no longer members of the Oxford Brookes Boat Club.

"Oxford Brookes will continue to support Tim throughout the duration of his studies.

"The University will of course take this opportunity to further educate its athletes of the importance of adhering to anti-doping regulations."