Jamaican sprinter Steve Mullings has been banned for life from competing in athletics after a second doping offence, the Jamaican Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel has said.

“We the panel believe that a clear and strong message must be sent to every athlete in Jamaica and elsewhere that prohibited substances will not be tolerated in sports,” panel chairman Lennox Gayle said.

Mullings, 28, was expected to appeal the ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), his attorney said. Alando Terrelonge said the decision was unfair based on the evidence presented to the three-member panel.

“There was no evidence before this panel to indicate that Mr. Mullings either deliberately took a drug to enhance his performance or to mask the presence of other drugs that he was taking to enhance his performance,” Terrelonge said.

Mullings, a former relay world champion, had been found guilty on Thursday by the panel for using the banned diuretic furosemide, which can act as a possible masking agent for other drugs.

The sprinter, now based in the United States, did not attend the hearing. Gayle said the decision to ban Mullings was unanimous.

“The fact that Mr Mullings, on the several occasions we tried to get him here, refused to attend, we therefore believe we certainly should impose the maximum in this particular case,” Gayle said

Mullings tested positive for the substance after placing third in the 100 meters final of the Jamaican national trials in June. He previously served a two-year ban after testing positive for excessive levels of testosterone in 2004.

Jamaican Jerry Holness, who is currently the head coach for the United Arab Emirates said the decision will cast a negative light on Jamaica’s track and field. “This will give reason for people to be pointing fingers on Jamaican athletes and their success,” he said in an email response.

Holness, who was coach of Christiana High and Manchester High and was the technical leader of the Jamaican team that took part in the 2008 IAAF World Junior Championships in Poland, said: “Our performance ranking is now at the highest level when compared with the rest of the world, and I am sure that this is due to the hard work and commitment of our athletes, coaches, administrators and all stakeholders involved.”

Mullings’ ban, he said, will only put Jamaica further under the microscope as “there are people out there who were pointing fingers and questioning the enormous success we have been reaping”.

Holness, who also coached a number of athletes including relay gold medallist and IAAF World Championships 100m finalist, Nesta Carter, wished Mullings the best with his stated plans to appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).

“I am still hoping that he will be able to take his case to the court of arbitration and free himself of all these charges,” he said yesterday.

National Record holder in the discus throw, Jason Morgan, expressed concern for his close friend via Black Berry Messenger. “Wow that’s sad, I wish Steve the best, I’m not sure if he had a back up plan… and have some money saved up.”