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Sprinter Gatlin Agrees To 8-Year Ban

Aug 22, 2006

RALEIGH, N.C. — Sprinter Justin Gatlin agreed to an eight-year ban from track and field Tuesday, avoiding a lifetime penalty in exchange for his cooperation with doping authorities and because of the "exceptional circumstances" surrounding his first positive drug test.

He will forfeit the world record he tied in May, when he ran the 100 meters in 9.77 seconds.

Gatlin tested positive in April for testosterone or other steroids. In making the agreement with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, Gatlin can still appeal to an arbitration panel in the next six months to have the term reduced.

He cannot, however, argue that the test was faulty.

"To his credit, it's recognition that the science is reliable," USADA general counsel Travis Tygart told The Associated Press. "Instead of wasting a bunch of resources attempting to create smoke where there's not any, he's acknowledging the accuracy of the positive test, and in exchange for his agreement to cooperate, we've recognized the nature of his first offense."

The sprinter's first offense came while he was in college and tested positive for banned medicine he was taking to control attention-deficit disorder. He received a two-year ban for that test.

George Williams is the head track coach at Saint Augustine's College in Raleigh and a former Olympic track coach. He knows Gatlin well, and said the ban may mean the end of his career.

"Eight years for a sprinter is like a death penalty," said Williams. "It's a sad day for track and field."

Gatlin has said he didn't know how steroids got into his system this time.

His coach, Trevor Graham, who has been involved with at least a half-dozen athletes who have received drug suspensions, claimed during an earlier interview with WRAL that a masseuse sabotaged the sprinter by rubbing steroid cream into his legs.

Gatlin's attorney hasn't acknowledged that allegation.

Under the World Anti-Doping Agency code, a second offense calls for a lifetime ban.

Despite the harshness of the penalty, USADA looks at this as a significant compromise -- and the arbitration process could bring Gatlin back much sooner than eight years.

"He accepted liability," Tygart said. "He agreed not to raise technical arguments or frivolous defenses. "He has an opportunity to go to a panel of arbitrators and argue exceptional circumstances."

Williams said he spoke with Gatlin a few days ago, but he never mentioned the ban.

"I think there has to be something else involved in the deal," he said. "I don't think he would take eight years, so I think it's all up to his lawyer and we'll just see how it plays out."

WRAL contacted Gatlin's attorney in New York, a former Olympic athlete herself. She was unavailable for comment.