US SPRINT STAR Tyson Gay has received a one-year doping ban from the US Anti-Doping Association (USADA) and handed back his 2012 London Olympics silver medal.
USADA announced that the 31-year-old American track star tested positive for a banned anabolic steroid in two random out-of-competition tests and one event doping test in urine samples taken last year by both USADA and the world governing body IAAF.
While the suspension timing means that Gay can return to competition next month, he will do so too late to take part in Diamond League meets at New York or Eugene, Oregon, or qualify for the US Track and Field Championships at Sacramento, California, on 26-29 June.
Gay accepted a one-year doping ban from June 2013 and the disqualification of all results dating to July 15, 2012 — the date he first used a product that contained a banned substance.
He also forfeited all prizes obtained from that date, which included voiding his effort on the US Olympic men’s 4x100m relay runner-up squad at London. USADA said Gay has already handed over his silver medal to US Olympic Committee officials.
Also thrown out was Gay’s fourth-place showing from London in the 100m final in 9.80 seconds, what had been the fastest non-medal effort in Olympic history.
After learning of his violation last year, Gay went public and said that while he never knowingly or willfully took a banned substance, he had made a mistake but did not elaborate.
“We appreciate Tyson doing the right thing by immediately withdrawing from competition once he was notified, accepting responsibility for his decisions, and fully and truthfully cooperating with us in our ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding his case,” USADA chief executive Travis Tygart said.
“USA Track and Field is gravely disappointed any time an athlete uses performance-enhancing drugs and Tyson Gay’s case serves as a lesson about the consequences of making poor decisions,” chief executive Max Siegel said in a statement.
“We appreciate that Tyson accepted responsibility and has assisted USADA by providing information to help battle the use of PEDs.”