KINGSTON, Jamaica – Former world 100m record holder Asafa Powell said he was happy at the “stay of the execution” granted by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Wednesday.
Powell and Olympic 100m silver medallist Simpson were both suspended for 18 months in April after testing positive for the banned stimulant oxilofrine during the 2013 Jamaican trials.
Both appealed their 18 month bans to the Swiss-based CAS, which on Wednesday upheld the application for a “stay of the execution” giving them the chance to compete immediately.
“God is good! Thank you to CAS for granting me this stay,” said Powell via his twitter page on Wednesday.
Powell continued, “I look forward to my day in Court. Until then see u on a track!”
He also tweeted, “Thank u 2all of my fans, friends and family ..You've helped me through the roughest time, it's not over but there's a light and I am grateful”
However, while CAS gave the go ahead for the sprinters to run, it stated both athletes could still be asked to serve the 18-month suspension given by the Jamaica Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel earlier this year.
In a statement CAS said “it upheld today the application for a stay of the execution of the suspension currently served by the Jamaican sprinters Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson pending the resolution of the arbitration conducted before the CAS. The athletes are free to compete from now on but may have to serve the remaining part of their ban later if the sanction is eventually confirmed by CAS.
CAS statement continued: “Both athletes filed appeals at CAS against the decisions of the Jamaica Anti-doping Disciplinary Panel Tribunal of 8 and 10 April 2014 to suspend them for a period of 18 months, starting on 21 June 2013.
The athletes put forward that the offense committed is minor and request that the suspensions be reduced to 3 months."
Both athletes could run at Jamaica National Trials is set for June 26-29
