U.S. sprinter Tyson Gay repays prize money earned while using steroids

Tyson Gay did all the right things when he failed a drug test before the 2013 world championships.

The U.S. sprinter immediately withdrew from competition, cooperated with authorities and, eventually, accepted a one-year ban.

Now, it seems, he is going a step further.

Gay is returning approximately $500,000 in prize money he earned at events while using a banned anabolic steroid, according to The Telegraph. The money is headed to five Diamond League meets.

“I can confirm the money is already on its way back from Gay’s agent,” Ed Warner, chairman of British Athletics, was quoted as saying. “They are aware their contract said the money was returnable if there was a doping violation but [agent] Mark Wetmore was on the case before we got on to it.”

Gay, one of the three fastest 100-meter runners in history behind Usain Bolt, has contended that he unknowingly began using the banned substance in 2012 by way of a cream given to him.

Because of his cooperation, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency gave him a reduced ban. He will be eligible to return to competition in June.