FIVE athletes who have previously served bans for doping offences have won medals at the 2015 world championships.
A total of 66 athletes competing in Beijing have breached rules that were designed to prevent the use of performance-enhancing drugs.
The Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell, who was banned for six months for failing a drugs test, yesterday won a gold medal in the 4x100m relay. The team, which included Usain Bolt, will receive £52,000 in prize money.
Bolt last week beat Justin Gatlin — the US sprinter who served a four-year ban for testosterone use after previously serving a suspension for taking amphetamines — in the 100m and 200m competitions. As well as his two silver medals, Gatlin will receive £39,000 in prize money.
LaShawn Merrit, an American athlete banned for 21 months after failing three drugs tests, won silver in the 400m and will get £19,500.
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Sandra Perkovic, a Croatian athlete banned for six months after testing positive for a stimulant, won silver in the women’s discus and will also receive £19,500.
Poland’s Piotr Lisek, who was banned for six months after failing to provide a sample for testing, won joint bronze in the men’s pole vault.