US sprinter Spearmon cops three-month ban

US sprinter Wallace Spearmon , who tested positive for Methylprednisolone during an international track meet on July, has been banned for three months.

Wallace Spearmon Jr., wins

US sprinter Wallace Spearmon who tested positive for Methylprednisolone, is banned for three months. (AAP)

The United States Anti-Doping Agency has slapped American sprinter Wallace Spearmon with a three-month suspension after the US Olympian failed a drug test in July.

The 29-year-old Spearmon tested positive for Methylprednisolone during an international track meet on July 6 in Edmonton, Canada.

Spearmon claimed the anti-inflammatory drug was in a prescription he was taking and that he didn't know that it was on USADA's and the World Anti-Doping Agency's banned list.

Spearmon could have asked for a therapeutic exemption to continue taking the drug but failed to do so.

"After a thorough review of the case, including Spearmon's medical records, USADA has accepted Spearmon's explanation that the Methylprednisolone was not being used in an effort to enhance his performance," USADA said.

His suspension began August 27 meaning he will be eligible to compete again in just nine weeks.

Spearmon took fourth place in the 200 metres final at the 2012 Olympics in London.

He reached the semi-finals of the 2013 World Championships in Moscow. His personal best for 200m is 19.65sec.


Share

1 min read

Published

Updated


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world