800 metres specialist Gareth Warburton could be handed a shock return to the track in Saturday's Indoor International, less than a week after being punished with a six-month ban for failing a drugs test.
It was confirmed yesterday that the 21-year-old has been cleared to compete again with UK Anti-Doping confirming the Welshman's suspension began when he was initially pulled from competition last July, in the ruling announced in tandem with a similar retrospective four-month ban handed down to former European 400m hurdles champion Rhys Williams.
Both were withdrawn from the Commonwealth Games in the wake of testing positive for a banned stimulant found in a supplement made by nutrition company Mountain Fuel - with the steroid found in Williams' system following last July's Diamond League meeting at Hampden Park.
And with the agency's report stating that both men had been negligent in failing to check the ingredients used against the prohibited list, UKAD director of legal, Graham Arthur, issued a warning for others to learn from their mistakes.
"These cases send a powerful reminder to athletes that there is no guarantee that any supplement product is free from banned substances," he said. "Athletes are strongly advised to be very cautious if they choose to use any supplement product and must undertake thorough research of any products before use."
Warburton, who failed an out of competition test, will now resume his track career and is eligible for selection by British Athletics for the Emirates Arena meeting, with the GB&NI squad due to be unveiled this morning.
"The reason for the failed test was the ingestion, by me, of an energy drink of which had been contaminated at some point during its manufacture," he said.
"Unfortunately, I have simply been an unlucky victim of a contaminated supplement, but I do take full responsibility for all substances found in my system. I am committed to drug free sport and will work actively with the governing bodies to further educate and share what I've learnt."
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