Sprinter agrees to 8-year ban
The Associated Press
Published August 22, 2006, 4:08 PM CDT
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.
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, has contended
Gatlin tested positive after a vengeful massage therapist used
testosterone cream on the runner without his knowledge.
Gatlin's attorney hasn't acknowledged that allegation.
Under the World Anti-Doping Agency code, a second offense calls for a
lifetime ban.
At age 24, an eight-year ban would pretty much knock Gatlin out of
competition for life. Still, 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."