The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) will not appeal banned American sprinter Tyson Gay’s controversial one-year doping ban.

The global agency said the ban, which has been widely criticised in Europe as too lenient, was “compatible with the World Anti-Doping Code.”

Gay, the world’s joint second fastest man, last month had accepted the one-year suspension by the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) after a 2013 positive test for an anabolic steroid.

The ban was backdated to June 23, 2013, making the US 100 metres record holder eligible to return to running later this month. His first race will be a 100m at Lausanne’s Diamond League meeting on July 3, organisers said this week.

Normally athletes receive a two-year suspension for their first major doping offence but under anti-doping rules the ban can be reduced for substantial cooperation.

The US agency said Gay was eligible for such a reduction because the sprinter offered what it termed substantial assistance in his case.

WADA yesterday said it was satisfied with the decision.

“After careful review and scrutiny of the full case file, WADA is satisfied that Mr. Tyson Gay provided substantial assistance to USADA in an appropriate fashion,” the global agency said in a statement to Reuters.

“WADA will therefore not appeal USADA’s decision which is compatible with the World Anti-Doping Code.”

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