Tyson Gay handed 12-month doping ban

Only a year after failing a drug test, American sprinter Tyson Gay will be able to compete again.

Gay, the second-fastest 100m sprinter in history, reportedly tested positive for a steroid cream which contained, among other banned substances, human growth hormone and testosterone. His sample was collected on June 23, 2013, and his ban will last until June 22, 2014, less than two months from now.

Although the U.S. track and field championships will be held after that date, Gay won’t be able to compete because he will not have a qualifying time.

The 12-month ban has many track and field fans upset, claiming it doesn’t make any sense that just weeks ago Jamaican Asafa Powell was handed an 18-month ban for what he claims was inadvertent stimulant use, which many consider a lesser offence. Gay will serve just 12 for knowingly using steroids.

The tricks at play are that Gay cooperated with doping authorities, and there is a clause in the World Anti Doping Agency’s rule book that says someone who cooperates can get up to 75 per cent of their ban chopped off. Powell refused to give up any information that he didn’t have to to the Jamaican doping authorities.

Some new rules, which will take effect in January of 2015, will create a hole where athletes could, in certain circumstances, not serve any ban for using banned substances if they provide the right information to authorities.