Asafa Powell requests 18-month ban to be reduced

Jamaica's former 100 metres world record holder Asafa Powell could yet compete at next month's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, if his appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against an 18-month doping ban proves to be successful.

The 31-year-old was handed a backdated 18-month ban in April.

It is due to end on December 20th, but CAS have said that the sprinter has requested his suspension be reduced to just three months because of the nature of the offence.

Powell tested positive for a stimulant, oxilophrine, at the 2013 national championships. He said at the time of his ban that the stimulant – which is only banned during competition – had been found in a legal supplement he was taking.

A date for an appeal hearing has not yet been set, but Powell, along with training partner three-time Olympic medalist Sherone Simpson who was given the same ban, have been invited to file written submissions to CAS. The deadline for athletes wishing to compete at the Commonwealth Games is June 11th, six weeks before the Games get under way on July 23rd.

Powell lowered the world record in the 100m to 9.77 in 2005, then 9.74 in 2008 before being eclipsed by Usain Bolt.