French judo champ suspended 10 months for missing drug tests

PARIS (AP) European judo champion Loic Korval has been suspended 10 months by the French federation after missing three doping tests.

Korval, who won the continental title last year in the men's 66-kilogram division, will be ineligible to defend his title at June's European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan, following three no-shows in less than 18 months.

The European judo championships are being held as part of the inaugural games.

The 26-year-old Korval said he won't appeal his suspension, which has been backdated to Oct. 22, 2014, and expires Aug. 22.

Korval, who hopes to compete at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, says ''I know that mistakes can have heavy consequences, but I'm not giving up.''

Korval also won a bronze medal at the 2010 world championships.