Since January, McNeal, who took Olympic gold in 2016 and World Cup gold in 2013 in the 100 meter hurdles then under the name Rollins, has been suspended from training and competition pending the verdict that came on June 4.

The disciplinary body Athletics Integrity Unit, independent of the International Athletics Federation, convicted McNeal of manipulating doping tests.

In December 2016, McNeal was shut down for one year due to failures in its stay reporting.

The second positive test significantly sharpened the sentence.

- McNeal appealed the decision because she did not commit doping and is convinced that she does not violate any anti-doping rule, her lawyer said before this weekend's competitions according to AP.

The case will later be heard by the Sports Arbitration Court in Lausanne, Cas.

"Unfortunately undermines confidence in the system"

It has not been explained in detail what McNeal's doping offense consists of.

At the same time as McNeal will start, Shelby Houlihan will be denied to start.

The 1500 and 5000 m runners were suspended for four years a few days ago after traces of anabolic steroids.

Her own explanation is that she ate contaminated pork.

- The perceived confusion is understandable and unfortunately undermines confidence in the system, says Travis Tygart, head of the US Anti-Doping Agency.

- But the rule of law must be applied fairly and equally despite that view, and we can all have confidence in it, says Tygart about the confusion that many feel before the doping interpretation.