Intro:

US sprinter Tyson Gay accepts one-year suspension following positive drug test.

Script:

American sprinter Tyson Gay has been banned for 12 months after testing positive for a banned anabolic steroid last year.

The US anti doping agency confirmed on Friday that Gay had accepted the ban which has been back-dated to June the 23rd 2013 when his sample was collected at the US Championships.

That means the 31-year-old can return to competition as early as next month. The sanction could have been more severe had Gay not helped the agency with the investigation.

He voluntaraly withdrew from all competitons before the Moscow World Championships when he first heard about the results and has not competed since.

The penalty also means his race results have been cancelled for all his events since July 15th, 2012. That's significant as he's had to give back his Olympic silver medal from the London games.

Gay was at the top of his game at the 2007 world championships in Japan, capturing gold in the 100, 200 and 400 relay. He will keep those titles but when his career is remembered those acheivements will no doubt be overshadowed by this.