Tyson Gay Doping Suspension Sends 'Bad Message' to Sport, Says Usain Bolt

Jamaican sprinter, Usain Bolt, believes a heavier sanction should have been imposed on Tyson Gay after the athlete tested positive for an anabolic steroid last year.

"I think for someone like Asafa (Powell) to get a ban of 18 months for that (stimulant oxilofrine) and then Tyson Gay get just one year because of cooperating, I think it is sending a bad message into the sport that you can do it (dope) but if you cooperate with us, we'll reduce the sentence," Bolt told Reuters.

According to The Guardian, Bolt believes that the way the situation was handled was like telling people that "this is a way out."

"It's a way of beating the system, so personally, I don't think the IAAF dealt with that very well," Bolt added.

Reuters said that the sanction given by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) to Gay already ended last month.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) also supported Usada's decision, saying that they were satisfied with Gay's one-year ban.

"After careful review of the full file provided by Usada, the IAAF has decided that the one-year sanction applied in the case of Tyson Gay was appropriate under the circumstances and in accordance with IAAF Rules," the Wada explained to The Guardian.

The same report added that athletes normally receive a two-year ban for their first doping offense and reduced for the following offenses.

Usada told The Guardian that Gay is already eligible for the reduction since he was offered with "substantial assistance."

The American track and field sprinter returned to the competition last July 3 and ran the 100-meter dash at the Lausanne Diamond League, Reuters reported.

He placed second in the run with a 9.93 seconds finish, while Justin Gaitlin finished first at 9.80 seconds.

"I'm happy to be back on the circuit, I didn't miss a beat. I felt very welcomed by my fellow athletes, it's great to make a return with 9.93," Gay said in a separate Reuters report.

"Lausanne is always a great competition. At this stage I'm not very clear where I will get to compete this season but my goal is to compete as much as I can and to remain healthy," he added.