Merritt gets the spot
30.06.2011 World
Defending world and Olympic 400m champion LaShawn Merritt will be part of Team USA’s roster for the 2011 IAAF World Outdoor Championships in Daegu. Informs USATF.
The USATF Board of Directors during its meeting June 25-26 in Eugene approved the recommendation of USATF’s Chief of Sport Performance and the chair of USATF Men’s Track & Field Committee to place Merritt on the roster. Merritt tested positive for DHEA in October, 2009. On October 18, 2010, the American Arbitration Association (AAA) declared that his ban would end July 27, 2011, shorter than the traditional 24-month ban and making him eligible to again compete prior to the World Championships. In reducing the length of the suspension, AAA stated it believed Merritt’s positive test to be the result of an inadvertent action and that he had not intended to gain a competitive advantage. “USATF decided to approve Mr. Merritt’s request for several reasons,” noted USATF Chief of Sport Performance Benita Fitzgerald Mosley. “Since he is a defending world champion, placing him on the roster will not deny a roster position to any other athlete. That fact, as well as the clear message sent by the AAA regarding his intent and conduct, resulted in our recommendation to place him on the roster.” Merritt will represent USA in Daegu with Tony McQuay, Jeremy Wariner and Greg Nixon.
|
