Manaus, Brazil - Three Brazilian athletes have been handed two-year bans for doping by the country's national federation (CBAt).

Sprinters Jorge Celio da Rocha Sena and Bruno Lins Tenoriode Barros (200m and 4x100m) as well as heptathlete Lucimara Silvestre da Silva received the minimum ban after waiving their right to having their B-samples tested and admitting to having taken an illicit drug.

The three athletes, who tested positive for the banned blood- booster Erythropoetin (EPO) during a training control on June 15, are now banned from from competing until June 15, 2011, the CBAt announced Manaus Thursday.

The other two athletes suspected of doping, 400 metre runner Josiane da Silva Tito and 400m hurdler Luciana Franca, have so far refused to comment on the incident.

Coaches Jayme Netto and Inaldo Sena have since been suspended from their positions while coach Netto has accepted responsibility for the violation.

Another 400m hurdler Lucimar Teodoro was suspended last week over suspected doping.

None of the six athletes will now travel to Berlin for the World Athletics championships, which run August 15-23, meaning the Brazil squad shrinks from 45 to 39. (dpa)