Former 100 metres world record-holder Tim Montgomery and three-time world sprint relay champion Chryste Gaines have been banned for two years after being found guilty of doping offences by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The CAS announced their decisions on the pair, who had been charged by the United States Anti-Doping Agency with taking performance- enhancing drugs, in connection with the Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative (Balco).
In a statement on the CAS website, it emerged that former double world champion Kelli White, who is also serving a two-year ban after admitting doping, testified against the pair, claiming both admitted using prohibited substances provided by Balco.
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As well as the suspensions, effective from last June 6, all results, rankings, awards and winnings obtained by Montgomery since March 31, 2001 and Gaines since November 30, 2003 will be cancelled.
Montgomery will no longer be credited as a former world record-holder, having set his mark in Paris in September 2002. He will also relinquish the silver medal from the 100m at the 2001 world championships and gold in the 4x100m sprint relay.
The pair were not charged because of a positive drugs test but based on information gleaned from materials taken in raids on Balco. They declined arbitration by the USADA, going directly to CAS whose decision is final.
Balco head Victor Conte, sentenced to four months in prison in October after pleading guilty to steroid distribution, said last year he had supplied Montgomery and partner - triple Olympic champion Marion Jones - with THG, EPO ( erythropoietin) and insulin.
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Sprinter Dwain Chambers could receive lottery funding should he regain his former level of performance after a two-year drug ban.
The European 100m champion says he can make a positive comeback, despite his lengthy drugs suspension, and prove himself once again as a world-class performer.
Although his ban expired on November 7, he must complete reinstatement antidoping tests in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Agency regulations. But the 27-year-old Londoner says he will return to competition - expected to be an indoor event some time in the New Year.
