LUCERNE, Switzerland, CMC- Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell returned from a doping ban to secure third place in the 100 metres at the International Athletics Meet in Lucerne, Switzerland on Tuesday.
The former world record holder ran a time of 10.30 seconds in his first appearance since he was cleared to run again after a suspension for taking a banned substance was cut to six months.
The race was won by fellow Jamaican Julian Forte, with Antoine Adams of St Kitts and Nevis in second. “It’s good to be back. I’ve had a lot of stress and pressure over the last few months,” said Powell who last ran competitively at the Lausanne Diamond League meeting a year ago.
“I haven’t trained for three weeks. I need to come back bit by bit.”
However the star of Tuesday’s event was Trinidadian sprinter Michelle-Lee Ahye, who triumphed in both the 100m and 200m.
Lee Ahye clocked 11.09 in the 100m and completed the 200m in 22.77 seconds.
Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell-Brown with 23.13 could only manage 6th in the 200 meters while fellow Jamaican Sherone Simpson, also returned from a doping ban to finish 8th in the 100 metres, clocking 11.57.
Both Powell and Simpson were suspended by a Jamaica anti-doping disciplinary panel after testing positive for the banned stimulant oxilofrine, which they claimed had been taken in a contaminated food supplement.
