By Mike Rowbottom

Tyson Gay pictured last year in Lausanne, where he will make his track return on July 3 after a doping ban ©Getty ImagesTyson Gay, whose two-year doping ban was cut in half in exchange for "significant assistance" given to the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), will return to competitive action on July 3 over 100 metres in the International Association of Athletics Federations' (IAAF) Diamond League meeting in Lausanne.


The 31-year-old former world 100 and 200m champion, who tested positive for a banned steroid at the US Championships last June, will race against another athlete who has previously been involved in doping controversies, fellow American Justin Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic 100m champion who served a four-year ban for a second doping offence.

Under the terms of the ban reduction agreed by USADA, Gay is eligible to race again from June 23.

A statement released by the organisers confirmed that Gay had "chosen to make his comeback from a one-year doping suspension on July 3 at the IAAF Diamond League Athletissima meeting, where he will compete in the 100m".

Tyson Gay in Lausanne last year, winning his last race before the imposition of a two-year doping ban which has been controversially halved, allowing him to make a return at the same meeting on July 3 ©AFP/Getty ImagesTyson Gay in Lausanne last year, winning his last race before the imposition of a two-year doping ban which has been controversially halved, allowing him to make a return at the same meeting on July 3 ©AFP/Getty Images

In the same statement, Gay expressed his delight at returning to action but made no specific mention of his drug violation.

He said: "Lausanne has always been one of my favourite meets, and I'm thrilled to have it be my opening meet of 2014.

"I have run fast times here.

"I have been training for several months, and will be ready on July 3."

The 2013 Lausanne meeting was Gay's last race before his suspension.

He won the 100m in 9.79 sec.

Last month Sebastian Coe, a vice-president of the IAAF and chairman of the British Olympic Association, questioned the "significant assistance" which Gay had offered, and whether the ban reduction was justified.

Neither the athlete nor USADA have subsequently provided any details about information divulged, although Gay's former coach, Jon Drummond, has admitted that he is now under investigation for allegedly supplying Gay with a cream containing a banned steroid and has been threatened with a lifetime ban.

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