IOC confirms Merritt Olympic ban

The International Olympic Committee have reaffirmed that 400 metres champion LaShawn Merritt will be ineligible to defend his title at the 2012 Olympics in London.

The 24-year-old was yesterday banned for 21 months, backdated to October last year, after failing three drugs tests, meaning he will be able to compete again on 27 July, 2011.

But a rule that came into force just before the Beijing Olympics in 2008 prevents any athlete banned for more than six months from competing in the following Games.

That means, although Merritt will be eligible to race at the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea next year, he will be banned for the London Olympics.

The American Arbitration Association panel that imposed the ban had indicated Merritt would be free to defend his title, but the IOC said today: “Each case is of course different and subject to potential legal procedures.

“But the IOC’s rules, which came into force just before Beijing in July 2008, are clear: The Osaka rule states very clearly that any athlete sanctioned for more than six months will be banned from participation in the next edition of the Games.

“This rule is still valid and applies to all athletes.”

After failing the tests in October and December of last year and January of this year, Merritt admitted using an over-the-counter male enhancement product containing banned substances DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) and pregnenolone.

The panel’s ruling confirmed Merritt had demonstrated at his hearing his positive tests were as a result of taking a product, ExtenZe, which he brought at a convenience store, and that he did not take it to enhance his track performance.

Merritt, who also won individual and relay gold at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, accepted a provisional suspension in April.

He could have been banned for up to two years.