Taurasi cleared of doping charges

Diana Taurasi always was confident she would be cleared of doping allegations.

It finally happened on Wednesday.

The star guard - often considered the best woman's basketball player in the world - had her provisional doping suspension lifted after a lab retracted its finding that she tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance.

The Turkish Basketball Federation said the lab retracted its report after it “evaluated” Taurasi's statements in her defense. The federation did not say whether the lab made a mistake.

The reversal clears the way for Taurasi to compete for the U.S. national team in the 2012 Olympics.

Taurasi told The Associated Press she was thrilled to be vindicated.