Sprinter Tyson Gay, who is serving a one-year ban after testing positive for steroids in two out-of-competition dope tests, is set to return to the track in the 2014 season.
Gay was banned by the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), with the sprinter also returning his London Olympics men's 4x100m relay silver medal.
Gay said he is not allowed to speak on the suspension according to the USADA guidelines, but he is allowed to run this year after completing the suspension period.
"Under the rules of USADA (US Anti-Doping Agency), they didn't want me to speak on the case," Gay said. "But they definitely understand what happened, and USADA understands that it was a mistake. That's why they're allowing me to run this year."
His ban, which was backdated to when he tested positive, will come to an end on June 23 this year, making him eligible to participate in the Diamond League meets in New York or Eugene, Oregon.
However, it is unlikely the former world championship gold medallist will have enough time to qualify for the US Track and Field Championships, starting June 26.
Gay escaped twice a suspension after testing positive for consuming an exogenous androgenic anabolic steroid, by voluntarily accepting the loss of all his records set after July 15, 2012 - the date when he first consumed the banned substances. The 31-year-old has not competed after withdrawing his name from the 2013 World Championships in Moscow.
"We appreciate Tyson doing the right thing by immediately withdrawing from competition once he was notified, accepting responsibility for his decisions, and fully and truthfully cooperating with us in our ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding his case," USADA CEO Travis Tygart had said.
In the 2007 Osaka World Championships, Gay was at the top of his form clinching 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay gold. In the 2009 Shanghai Golden Grand Prix, Gay matched Usain Bolt's winning time of 9.69 seconds set at the Beijing Olympics, while also setting the fastest 100m time by an American.
