Belgian panel suspends Wickmayer for one year

BRUSSELS (AP)—A Belgian anti-doping tribunal has suspended U.S. Open semifinalist Yanina Wickmayer for one year for allegedly failing to report her whereabouts to anti-doping officials three times.

The Flemish regional tribunal said in a statement issued Thursday that the minimum one-year sanction is “reasonable.”

Tribunal spokesman Koen Uman says the suspension takes immediate effect, but can be appealed by Wickmayer. Wickmayer has denied any wrongdoing.

The 18th-ranked Belgian is playing in the Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions in Bali. She says on her Web site she will appeal the suspension.