Olympic champion Merritt suspended 21 months

LaShawn Merritt of the US reacts after winning the men's 400m final during the Beijing Olympic Games in this August 21, 2008 file photo.

RALEIGH, North Carolina - US Olympic and world 400 metres champion LaShawn Merritt has been suspended through July 2011 after testing positive for a banned substance found in a male enhancement product, the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) said on Monday.

The Beijing Olympic and 2009 world gold medallist had three samples test positive for prohibited testosterone prohormones, the anti-doping agency said in a statement.

He was suspended for 21 months, beginning October 28, 2009, the date of his first sample.

Merritt had accepted a provisional suspension in April "as a result of positive drug tests caused by his use of an over-the-counter male enhancement product," the American's attorney, Howard Jacobs, said in a statement at the time.

The statement said Merritt had used the over-the-counter product, which contained DHEA and pregnenolone, following the 2009 season.

Merritt acknowledged again on Monday he had made a mistake and said he was appreciative the three-member arbitration panel "agreed that I have never taken any substance to gain an advantage on the track," he said in a statement.

"I look forward to returning to competition as soon as possible and proving that my prior successes, including at the Olympic Games, were achieved honestly and fairly."

(Agencies)