The Spanish Athletics Federation (RFEA) has suspended 20k walker Francisco "Paquillo" Fernandez following his admission of possessing a banned substance.

On Wednesday, the 2004 Olympic silver medallist said he had told police and sports authorities that he had acquired the substance, reported in the Spanish media to be EPO. He said he had not consumed it.

In a statement issued yesterday, RFEA said it had suspended Fernandez from competition with immediate effect, with the details of his sanction to be confirmed.

Fernandez was investigated in November as part of Operation Grial, an anti-doping raid in which 11 people were arrested.