Fifty years ago Matthews and the late Wayne Collett were given a life ban from the Olympics for a podium protest at Munich 1972 following the men's 400 metres final in which Matthews won gold and Collett silver.

The decision to rescind the life ban was prompted by an appeal to IOC President Thomas Bach from Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees secretary general Brian Lewis.

"The decision is a positive step," Lewis insisted.

"I acknowledge and appreciate that President Bach and the Executive Board acknowledged and considered the matter."

The USOPC has been advised of the IOC decision

In 1972, Matthews had been banned for what the IOC Executive Committee called "a disgrace to the Olympic Movement".

The New York Times described how the pair had behaved during the playing of the US national anthem during the medal ceremony in Munich.

"The two chatted briefly as the music played," Neil Amdur stated in his report.

"Matthews fidgeted with his goatee and stood with hands on hips, then twirled his gold medal around his fingers stepping down from the platform to the first chorus of boos."

At the IOC meeting in 1972, President Avery Brundage, himself an American, summoned US Olympic Committee (USOC) President Clifford Buck and IOC member Douglas Roby.

Brundage "reminded the USOC that this was the second time, such an incident had occurred," and recalled the famous demonstration by 200m medallists Tommie Smith and John Carlos in 1968.

Matthews, who turns 75 later this week, has been unwilling to discuss the events in Munich in recent years.

Collett died from cancer in 2010.