Powell, Sherone get relief

Jamaican sprinters Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson have had their 18-month drug suspensions cut to six months and are free to continue competing, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said on Monday.

"The CAS decided to reduce their period of ineligibility to six months, which has been already served," the global court said in a statement on its website.

CAS said it would announce a reason for its decision in a few weeks.

Powell and Simpson, who had tested positive for a stimulant last year, both said they were elated with the decision.

"I feel total relief and that we have finally been vindicated," Simpson said in a statement. "Our actions were not intentional and CAS has recognised that. I am truly thankful."

Powell added: "I always felt that the 18 months was not in line with a first time positive test result and it being proven it came from a tainted supplement."

Jamaican officials said they would abide by the decision.

"We see and note the ruling by CAS and we will abide by the ruling as it is from the final court," Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission executive director Carey Brown told Reuters on Monday.

A Jamaican anti-doping disciplinary panel had suspended former 100 metres world record holder Powell and 2008 Olympic 100m silver medallist Simpson for 18 months after they had tested positive for the stimulant Oxilofrine at the 2013 Jamaican world championships trials.

The sprinters appealed and CAS granted a stay of the decision, allowing them to run beginning last month while it decided the case.