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Jamaican duo Asafa Powell, Sherone Simpson free to compete after drug bans reduced

The Court of Arbitration for Sport announce that Jamaican duo Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson have had their 18-month drug bans reduced to six months.

Jamaican sprinters Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson are free to compete immediately after having their doping bans reduced from 18 months to six months, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has announced.

The duo were banned in April after testing positive for the banned stimulant oxilofrine, but are now free to compete as the ban backdated to when their samples were first taken last summer.

The CAS said that it would announce a reason for its decision in the coming weeks.

Powell reacted to the news instantly on Twitter, writing: "Thank u to The Court of Arbitration for Sport. Finally this weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Justice has been served. Now let's run!"

Powell, 31, is a former 100m world record holder, while Simpson, 29, won 100m silver in the 2008 Beijing Olympic games.

Both have won Olympic gold in the 4x100m relay event. They will not be able to compete at the upcoming Glasgow Commonwealth Games as the Jamaican squad has already been decided.

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Sherone Simpson of Jamaica smiles prior to the Women's 200m heat on Day 10 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 6, 2012
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