London 2012: LaShawn Merritt gets Olympic doping rule overturned

Merritt was given a two-year ban, later reduced to 21 months

LaShawn Merritt can defend his Olympic 400m title at London 2012 after winning an appeal against an International Olympic Committee doping rule.

The IOC's rule had barred any athlete who has received a doping suspension of more than six months from competing in the next summer or winter games.
Merritt, 25, argued the punishment went beyond World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) sanctions of a maximum two-year ban.
The outcome could force British chiefs to re-think their regulations.