The 24-year-old American, who failed the tests in October and December of last year and January of this year, will be eligible to compete again on 27 July 2011, but will still miss London because under the rules of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) any athlete who tests positive for banned drugs is automatically suspended from the next Games.

But the American Arbitration Association (AAA), who heard the case, claimed that Merritt should not be prevented from competing at the Olympics because an athlete should not be punished twice for the same offence.

Merritt, who won individual 400 metres and 4x400m relay gold at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, accepted a provisional suspension in April and this suspension was backdated to 28 October 2009.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), however, may appeal against the decision because it was short of the two-year ban they demand in such cases.

Merritt, who also won the world 400m title in Berlin last year, had admitted using an over-the-counter male enhancement product containing DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) and pregnenolone.

The AAA's ruling confirmed Merritt had demonstrated at his hearing his positive tests were as a result of taking a product, ExtenZe, which claims to promote "natural male enhancement" and which he brought at a convenience store, and that he did not take it to enhance his track performance.

Ironically the drug is marketed under the slogan "100 per cent risk free".

Among those who gave evidence on Merritt's behalf were the 7-Eleven shop assistant who sold Merritt the over-the-counter drug.

The ruling read: "He wasn't training so he wasn't thinking about track.

"His mindset when purchasing the product was thinking about having sex with a woman.

"It never entered his mind that the product contained a steroid derivative.

"He admitted he did not look at the label."

Merritt was devastated when he found out what had caused his positive tests

The ruling added: "He testified that his heart sank.

"He thought how stupid he had been.

"Rather than hiding his fact Mr Merritt announced it to the world, recognising the humiliation that would soon follow, and immediately informed USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency)."

Merritt's ban runs out a month before next year's World Championships get under way in Daegu where he will be eligible to compete as the defending champion, although he must first be selected by United States Track and Field.

"While I acknowledge that I made a mistake...I have never taken any substance to gain an advantage on the track," Merritt said in a release issued by his lawyer Howard Jacobs.

"I look forward to returning to competition as soon as possible and proving that my prior successes...were achieved honestly and fairly."

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