FORMER 100m world record holder Asafa Powell and 2008 Olympic silver medallist Sherone Simpson are now free to return to action after their application to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for a stay of the execution of their suspensions were upheld.

Both sprinters were serving 18-month bans handed down by the Jamaica Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel Tribunal on April 8 and 10 and were due to return to action in December 2014.

Powell, 31, and Simpson, 29, are free to compete immediately, which allows them to compete in the Jamaican National Championships between June 26 and 29 if so desired, making them eligible for selection to the Commonwealth Games set for July 23 in Scotland.

But they may have to serve the remaining part of their ban later, if the sanctions are eventually confirmed by CAS. Both were banned following failed drug tests last year and they both appealed. The CAS hearing is scheduled for July 7-8.

The Jamaica Anti-doping Disciplinary Panel Tribunal sanctioned the athletes following a positive anti-doping test for the banned substance Oxilofrine.

Both Powell and Simpson were found to be grossly negligent, especially in light of the fact that they are elite athletes.

But the athletes put forward that the offence committed is minor and request that the suspensions be reduced to three months.