US sprinter Rodgers exits worlds under doping cloud

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – U.S. sprinter Michael Rodgers,  who tested positive for a prohibited stimulant last month, has  accepted a provisional suspension yesterday and withdrew from  this month’s world championships in South Korea.

Rodgers, who was scheduled to compete for the United States  in the 100 meters and 4x100m relay, tested positive for  methylhexaneamine at an Italian meet but claimed he did not  intentionally ingest the substance, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency  said in a statement.

Rodgers, 26, qualified for the worlds by finishing third in  the 100 meters at the U.S. world championship trials in June.

The world championships begin in Daegu on Aug. 27.