Jamaican sprinters Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson have bans reduced

Jamaican sprinters Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson are free to compete immediately after The Court of Arbitration for Sport partially upheld their appeals in their doping suspension cases, the Associated Press reports. 

In July 2013, Powell and Simpson tested positive for a banned stimulant. The sprinters, who are training partners, maintained that they did not take the substance knowingly. In April, they were banned from competing for 18 months, a suspension which began at the time of the failed test.

The CAS partially upheld Powell's and Simpson's appeals Monday, and reduced the ban to six months. They are free to compete immediately, since the length of their ban has already been served. Powell and Simpson had already been free to compete since June 18, when the CAS ordered a stay of their suspensions.

Powell and Simpson each have one Olympic medal. Powell's came at the 2008 Beijing games in the 4x100 relay, while Simpson's was in 2004 in Athens in the same event. 

- Dan Gartland