61-year-old long jump icon Mike Powell is banned from all athletics activities, announces the athletics integrity unit AIU.
The reason is that Powell has violated the rules on so-called "safeguarding" – a safe environment within athletics.
The suspension applies to all activities related to events sanctioned by the international athletics federation, World Athletics.
AIU provides no further details about the reasons for the suspension.
The message comes the day before the World Championship in Tokyo begins. The last time the World Championship was held there, in 1991, Mike Powell set a new world record in long jump with 8.95 meters. That record still stands.
