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 Gay has also returned the silver medal he won with the U.S. 4x100
metres relay team at the 2012 London Olympics but will be eligible
to return to competition as early as next month after admitting his
offence and co-operating with investigators.
"We are thankful he decided to come in and be truthful in his
cooperation with us," USADA chief executive Travis Tygart told
Reuters.
"With the loss of results since 2012, including an Olympic medal, he
has suffered serious consequences, but by cooperating he has tried
to help the sport move forward for the good of clean athletes."
As part of the suspension he accepted, Gay, the joint second fastest
man in history, was disqualified from all competitive results since
July 15, 2012, the date he first used a product that contained a
prohibited steroid.
The start of his ban was backdated to June 23, 2013, the day his
doping sample was collected at the USA Outdoor Track & Field
Championships and when he voluntarily stopped competing after being
notified of his positive test.
His first race back is planned for July, Reuters has learned.
The American 100 metres record holder had tearfully admitted last
July he had failed an out-of-competition doping test, saying "I
basically put my trust in someone and I was let down."
"I don't have a sabotage story. I don't have lies," Gay, who had
previously spoken out against doping, said in a 2013 interview,
adding he had never knowingly taken a performance-enhancing drug. "I
made a mistake."
The 31-year-old could have been suspended for two years for his
first doping offence but received a reduction because of his
substantial assistance, USADA said.
The circumstances of his case is still under investigation and could
produce additional suspensions, track and field sources said.
The ban is also subject to appeal by the International Association
of Athletics Federation and the World Anti-Doping Agency.
The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) confirmed it had received
the medal Gay won at the London Olympics and would be forwarding it
to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
"We were extremely disappointed to learn that Tyson Gay committed a
doping offense," USOC spokesman USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky said
in an email.
"The USOC remains committed to the fight against doping and will
continue to invest substantial resources to ensure that the United
States is and remains a world leader in anti-doping efforts.”
The IOC will determine whether other members of the U.S. relay team
will be allowed to keep their medals. The committee has offered
varying opinions in past cases.
Whether the United States record the team of Trell Kimmons, Justin
Gatlin, Gay and Ryan Bailey set in finishing second to Jamaican in
the 4x100 relay stands also will be determined by the finalization
of results from the race, USATF spokeswoman Jill Geer said.
The governing body expressed disappointment that one of its biggest
names had tested positive.
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"USA Track & Field is gravely disappointed any time an athlete uses
performance-enhancing drugs, and Tyson Gay’s case serves as a lesson
about the consequences of making poor decisions," USATF chief
executive Max Siegel said in a statement.
"We appreciate that Tyson accepted responsibility and has assisted
USADA by providing information to help battle the use of PEDs. We
thank USADA for their vigilant work on this case and for their
leadership in the pursuit of clean sport."
A spokesman for Gay said his client was unlikely to make any public
comments on the case for several days.
ANOTHER BIG BAN
Gay's suspension follows hot on the heels of another ban to a
big-name sprinter.
Jamaican former world record holder Asafa Powell was slapped with an
18 month suspension by Jamaican officials in April after a positive
test for the banned stimulant oxilophrine. He is appealing the ban.
Only Jamaican world record holder Usain Bolt has a faster 100 metres
time than Gay, whose 2009 clocking of 9.69 seconds was later
equalled by Jamaican Olympic silver medallist Yohan Blake in 2012.
Soft-spoken and humble, Gay had seemed destined in 2007 to becoming
the world's great sprinters, winning gold medals in the 100 and 200
metres and 4x100 metres relay at the Osaka world championships.
But injuries and the emergence of Bolt shattered those dreams as the
lanky Jamaican dashed to world records and Olympic gold at the 2008
Beijing Games.
Bolt later lower both records to 9.58 seconds for the 100 and 19.19
for the longer sprint and repeated as the Olympic gold medallist in
London in 2012.
Gay appeared ready for another run at Bolt at the 2013 world
championships with eye-catching times at the U.S. trials.
But his admission to the failed doping test ended that opportunity
as Gay withdrew from the championships and ended his 2013 season.
(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Ralegh, North Carolina; editing by
Julian Linden)
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