Gold-medalist LaShawn Merritt banned

Associated Press

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Olympic gold medalist runner LaShawn Merritt has been banned from track through July 2011 for using a banned substance found in an over-the-counter male enhancement product.

Merritt won the 400-meter Olympic title in Beijing. He accepted a provisional suspension earlier this year and received a 21-month suspension from arbitrators Monday.

The suspension is retroactive to last October and he'll be eligible for the 2011 world championships next August.