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Jamaican sprinters Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson have doping bans cut Jamaican sprinters Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson have doping bans cut
(about 1 hour later)
Jamaican sprinters Asafa Powell, the former 100 metres world record holder, and Sherone Simpson have had their doping bans reduced from 18 months to six months and are free to compete immediately, the court of arbitration for sport (CAS) has announced.Jamaican sprinters Asafa Powell, the former 100 metres world record holder, and Sherone Simpson have had their doping bans reduced from 18 months to six months and are free to compete immediately, the court of arbitration for sport (CAS) has announced.
The pair were suspended by a Jamaica anti-doping disciplinary panel after testing positive for the banned stimulant oxilofrine.The pair were suspended by a Jamaica anti-doping disciplinary panel after testing positive for the banned stimulant oxilofrine.
They appealed to CAS to have their bans reduced to three months and the appeals were partially upheld. As the six-month bans have already been served, they are now eligible to compete.They appealed to CAS to have their bans reduced to three months and the appeals were partially upheld. As the six-month bans have already been served, they are now eligible to compete.
A CAS statement said: “They put forward that the offence committed was minor because it was caused by contamination of the food supplement ‘Epiphany D1’ by the banned substance Oxilofrine and requested that the suspensions be reduced to three months.” A CAS statement said: “They put forward that the offence committed was minor because it was caused by contamination of the food supplement Epiphany D1 by the banned substance oxilofrine and requested that the suspensions be reduced to three months.”
Powell immediately expressed his relief on Twitter saying: “Thank u to The Court of Arbitration for Sport. Finally this weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Justice has been served. Now let’s run!”Powell immediately expressed his relief on Twitter saying: “Thank u to The Court of Arbitration for Sport. Finally this weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Justice has been served. Now let’s run!”
The 31-year-old then added he would make an instant return to the track in Lucerne on Tuesday.The 31-year-old then added he would make an instant return to the track in Lucerne on Tuesday.
The reduction of the ban – given after he tested positive at the Jamaican national championships last summer – means he can return ahead of his scheduled date of December.The reduction of the ban – given after he tested positive at the Jamaican national championships last summer – means he can return ahead of his scheduled date of December.
Powell and Simpson will miss next week’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with the Jamaican squad having been selected during their suspension.Powell and Simpson will miss next week’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with the Jamaican squad having been selected during their suspension.
Simpson said: “I feel total relief and that we have finally been vindicated. We both knew that we had done all we could to ensure the supplement was OK before taking it … our actions were not intentional and CAS has recognised that. I am truly thankful.”Simpson said: “I feel total relief and that we have finally been vindicated. We both knew that we had done all we could to ensure the supplement was OK before taking it … our actions were not intentional and CAS has recognised that. I am truly thankful.”