By Elizabeth Hudson BBC Sport in Athens

Connor won gold four years ago

Top sprinter Earle Connor has been suspended from Canada's Paralympic team after failing a drugs test.

Connor, who holds four world records, tested positive for trace amounts of testosterone and nandrolone last month.

He has been suspended pending the final review of his test by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport.

Connor, who lost his left leg aged three months after a fibula problem, won a gold and silver in the T42 category in Sydney four years ago.

He said in a statement that he had used a medically prescribed patch that helps normalise testosterone levels after surgery in 2001 to remove one of his testes because of concerns over cancer.

The 28-year-old added that he had been taking prescribed and supplemental medications after being diagnosed with a severe gastro-intestinal infection at a competition in Germany in July.

As well as his medals from Sydney and world record records, earlier this year Connor won the prestigious World Disability Sportsperson of the year at the Laureus Sports Awards.

"The Canadian Paralympic Committee is disappointed and saddened by this situation involving Earl Connor," said Brian McPherson, the Canadian Paralympic Committee's director general.

"We hope that the matter will be concluded as quickly as possible so the focus can turn to the outstanding performances of the athletes on Team Canada."

Connor had been one of three Canadian athletes nominated to carry their country's flag at Friday's opening ceremony but that honour now falls to wheelchair basketball star Chantal Benoit.