Curler Briane Harris faces 4-year suspension after testing positive for banned substance, plans to appeal

Four-time Canadian women's curling champion Briane Harris has been provisionally suspended for up to four years after testing positive for the banned substance Ligandrol.

But the 32-year-old from Winnipeg told CBC Sports she plans to appeal the ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, arguing she was unknowingly exposed to it through bodily contact.

In a statement to CBC Sports, the World Curling Federation would only acknowledge that an athlete in their testing pool had tested positive and been suspended, but would not name the person. 

Harris, the lead for Team Einarson, was deemed ineligible at last month's Scotties Tournament of Hearts, just hours before the opening game of the event in which she and her team were the defending champions.

"I was entirely shocked and devastated when I became aware of my positive test result," Harris said in a statement to CBC Sports. "As someone who does not take any supplements at all, and even hesitates to take Advil or Tylenol, I was in disbelief that this could happen to me.

"I was crushed that I could not play in the Scotties Tournament of Hearts and help my teammates defend our title. My goal now is to resolve this as soon as possible to preserve my Olympic dreams; it would be unbearable to have that in jeopardy over no wrongdoing on my part."

Ligandrol is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency. It is used to increase energy and muscle growth.

Harris was tested by doping control officers on Jan. 24 and notified of her positive test on Feb. 15.  A second sample, called the B sample, was returned last week and confirmed the positive test.

"All I can hope for myself at this time is that the truth will prevail," Harris said, but offered no other details on her claim.

Both Harris