Court reduces doping ban on Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson
Jamaican sprinters' 18-month suspension cut to just six months after winning their appeal
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has reduced 18-month doping bans for Jamaican sprinters Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson to just six months.
Powell, a former world record holder in the 100 metres, and three-time Olympic medallist Simpson tested positive for the banned stimulant oxilofrine at Jamaica's national trials last year.
I always felt that the 18 months was not in line with a first-time positive test result
In April, Jamaica's anti-doping disciplinary panel suspended the two athletes for 18 months, with the start of the sanctions backdated to June 21, 2013.
"I never felt that I should not have received a sanction. However, I always felt that the 18 months was not in line with a first-time positive test result," Powell said in a joint statement released with Simpson.
Simpson said their "actions were not intentional and CAS has recognised that".
CAS announced it had decided to reduce their period of ineligibility to six months.
That time has already been served. The court heard the appeals in New York over two days earlier this month.