The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected her appeal against a four-year ban imposed by Turkish authorities after she tested positive for steroids while training in the United States in 2007. 

The International Association of Athletics Federations also appealed and asked the court to ban 31-year-old Ayhan for life. 

“The conditions for admitting a multiple violation under IAAF [rules] are fulfilled and a life ban has been ordered,” the court said in a statement. 

Ayhan tested positive for the anabolic steroids methandienone and stanozolol, the banned drug used by sprinter Ben Johnson at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. She previously served a two-year suspension for refusing to take a drug test before the 2004 Athens Olympics. Ayhan won her European title in 2002 and finished second at the 2003 world championships.

CAS lifted a two-year suspension imposed in Turkey on her husband and coach Yucel Kop for being negligent in his duties. The court said it had no evidence Kop violated the IAAF's anti-doping or disciplinary rules.