LAUSANNE — The Court of Arbitration for Sport said Monday it had struck down a four-year doping ban imposed on world long-jump silver medalist Jarrion Lawson, finding him innocent of "fault or negligence".

World Athletics banned Lawson on May 19 last year after he tested positive for the anabolic steroid epitrenbolone.

But the 25-year-old 2017 world athletics championships silver medalist from Texas argued in his appeal to CAS that he had eaten a contaminated meal on the day prior to the test.

CAS found that the athlete "had established that he bore "no fault or negligence" for the positive test and that the ban should be lifted.

Marathon des Sables

postponed due to virus

The 35th edition of the Marathon des Sables, an ultramarathon across the Moroccan Sahara scheduled from April 3 to 13, has been postponed to September due to coronavirus.

The organizers released a statement on Monday saying that they had acted because they anticipated a ban by the Moroccan government.

"As a precautionary measure, we prefer to anticipate and take our responsibilities. Therefore, we inform you today that this 35th edition is postponed and will take place from 18 to 28 September 2020," said the statement on the race web site.

The six-stage, 250-km annual event attracts around 1,000 competitors. — AFP