German distance runner Sara Benfares has been banned for five years for doping offences, the nation’s anti-doping agency NADA said on Thursday. The NADA said it went beyond the usual four-year sanction because of “aggravating circumstances.” It said that five forbidden substances were detected in three doping tests between last September and January, including the steroids testosterone and clenbuterol, as well as the blood booster EPO. “It can therefore be assumed that the substances were taken and used continuously over a certain period of time,” the NADA said. “NADA Germany’s determination o…