US Olympic and world 400 metres champion LaShawn Merritt has been suspended through July 2011 after testing positive for a banned substance found in a male enhancement product, the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) said on Monday.
The Beijing Olympic and 2009 world gold medallist had three samples test positive for prohibited testosterone prohormones, the anti-doping agency said in a statement.
He was suspended for 21 months, beginning October 28, 2009, the date of his first sample.
Merritt had accepted a provisional suspension in April "as a result of positive drug tests caused by his use of an over-the-counter male enhancement product," the American's attorney, Howard Jacobs, said in a statement at the time.
Merritt acknowledged again on Monday he had made a mistake and said he was appreciative the three-member arbitration panel "agreed that I have never taken any substance to gain an advantage on the track," he said in a statement.
"I look forward to returning to competition as soon as possible and proving that my prior successes, including at the Olympic Games, were achieved honestly and fairly," he added.IAAF strips White of gold medals
French Anti-Doping Agency president resigns
WADA to oversee anti-doping programme at CWG
USOC confirms Toth tested positive
National Anti-Doping Agency slams BCCI