By Titus Mohler

Correspondent

After serving a 21-month ban for “accidental doping,” Suffolk resident LaShawn Merritt is ready to leave that saga behind as he heads to the 2012 Olympics in London.

Having served a suspension and clear his name, he’s running fast now and ready to represent the U.S. track and field team at the Olympics.

Between October 2009 and January 2010, Merritt tested positive for having steroid derivatives in his system called DHEA and pregnenolone, which are known as prohormones — banned testosterone precursors that help build muscle.

Merritt, who had never tested positive before, was frank about his initial reaction.

“It was shock,” he said. “Of course, I was shocked, didn’t know what it was.”

It turned out the prohormones were ingredients in a male-enhancement product named ExtenZe, an over-the-counter item available at countless convenience stores.

Merritt was able to prove in court to the United States Anti-Doping Agency that the use, in fact, was accidental. Though Olympic athletes are held responsible for whatever is inside their bodies, given the accidental nature of this case, Merritt is wary of the label “doping” being applied.

“People keep labeling it ‘doping,’” he said. “This whole ‘doping’ deal, I don’t really get down with that whole deal, because it was an ingredient (in) an over-the-counter product.”

After he tested positive for the prohormones, he first suspected an acne cream he had used, but that was tested and cleared. Then, he realized it could have been the male-enhancement product.

He went back to the store, checked the box and found the banned ingredients listed on the label. He knew then he would face suspension from competition.

Merritt had a plan, though. During the year-and-a-half suspension, he would enlist allies to help him get leniency, given the special nature of his case, and he would press on athletically.

“I had a great team,” he said. “I had my lawyer, I had my agent who handled all the logistics of everything. My thing was continuing to train and do what I do.”

He completed his suspension, won the right from the Court of Arbitration for Sport to participate in the Olympics and now has London on his radar.

Merritt is not letting the ordeal affect his training for more Olympic gold medals. He won two medals in the 2008 Olympics, one in the 400 and one in the 4×400-meter relay.

“I have the same approach,” he said. “It’s 400 meters.”

He even downplayed the magnitude of his first-place finish at the U.S. Olympic Trials on Sunday, revealing a singular focus.

“A lot of people may look at it like I’m back, and for me to be over-excited,” he said. “This is just the first step to what I’ve been planning to do. I’ve worked hard not to just come here and just win Trials.”

He should be the favorite in London after Sunday’s race. His 44.12-second time in the 400 meters was the fastest by anyone in the world this season.

Reflecting on the events of the last two years, Merritt shared what he took away from it.

“Just knowing in life things happen,” he said. “Who ever thought that would happen? Nothing intentional that was going on. It was just, on my part, not reading a label at a 7-Eleven. Period.”

But some things haven’t changed, he said.

“My motivation’s never went anywhere, my hunger’s never went anywhere,” he said. “I continue to train and work hard and go out and let my hard work be my confidence and run the race that I trained so hard to run.”