Jamaican athletes banned for three months »

Sprinters Yohan Blake, Marvin Anderson, Allodin Fothergill and Lansford Spence, who admitted taking banned stimulants, were yesterday banned for three months.

The Jamaica Anti-Doping Tribunal, headed by Justice Ransford Langrin, a retired judge of Jamaica's Court of Appeal, in handing down the sanctions at the Institute of Jamaica yesterday, also reprimanded the athletes.

The sanctions took effect yesterday.

Dr Patrece Charles-Freeman, executive director of the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO), expressed satisfaction with the ruling.

"I think the Appeals Tribunal understood the case and their decision was a fair one," she said.

"JADCO will continue to look out for the athletes while continuing to uphold the rules and regulation of JADCO," added Dr Charles-Freeman said.

The decision by the Appeal Tribunal's now awaits the stamp of approval from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

All four athletes were diagnosed with Adverse Analytical Findings (AAF) in samples from tests taken at the Jamaican National Championships, which took place from June 26-28.

Initially, they were all cleared because according to Jamaica Anti-Doping Disciplinary Committee chairman, Kent Gammon, the substance was not on WADA's list of banned substances or in any way similar to tuaminoheptane, which the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) successfully appealed, saying it has a similar chemical structure.

Lead attorney representing the athletes, Dr Lloyd Barnett, said he does not discuss his clients' cases.

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