Belgium's Six banned 18 months for sample refusal

LONDON (AP) - Belgian cyclist Marcel Six has been banned for 18 months for refusing to provide a urine sample at a lower-level race in London.

UK Anti-Doping says Six declined to submit to a drug test during the BCF Halfords Tour Races Series on May 31. He is suspended until March 27, 2014.

UKAD says the sanction was reduced from the standard two-year ban because Six demonstrated "no significant fault or negligence.''

Six, who was riding for the Metaltek Scott team, told testers he wanted to get home to his wife and sick children.

The UKAD ruling says "honorable though the athlete's motives may have been, we have no hesitation in finding that his refusal was not based on any compelling justification.''