CANBERRA, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Australia's twice Olympian James Stanton will miss the London Games after being given a two-year doping ban on Wednesday.

The water polo star tested positive for the anabolic agent clenbuterol in an out-of-competition test in Perth on September 15 last year.

The ban was backdated to the date of his provisional suspension, meaning he will be ineligible to participate in sport until 23 October 2012.

Clenbuterol is prohibited under the World Anti-Doping Code and carries with it potentially serious penalties, including a lifetime ban for second offences.

The 27-year-old strenuously denied knowingly taking the substance.

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