ATHLETICS

Gatlin agent refutes doping claims

THE agent at the centre of an investigation by a British newspaper into world 100 metres champion Justin Gatlin’s entourage said on Tuesday he invented a story about obtaining banned drugs to impress undercover reporters.

Robert Wagner, who has occasionally represented Gatlin, and Gatlin’s coach Dennis Mitchell were secretly filmed by the Daily Telegraph newspaper claiming they could obtain and administer human growth hormone and testosterone for $250 000 (R3.1million).

The newspaper’s reporters had gone to meet the pair at Gatlin’s Florida training base and had posed as producers interested in making a film about a sprinter – the drugs were meant to help the film’s lead actor get into shape.

But in a statement given to Britain’s Press Association by a Britishbased public relations company, Wagner said the Telegraph’s story was “deeply flawed” because it was based on false comments he made up to impress people he thought were in the film business.

“I apologise to Mr Gatlin, his management and family for saying completely false things about him,” the US-based Austrian said.

Wagner said he reported his meeting with the reporters to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) and would assist the investigation it had started “in every way I can”.

Earlier Tuesday, Gatlin posted a statement on his Instagram account, saying he was “shocked and surprised” when he learned Mitchell had allegedly offered to supply performancedrugs. “I am not using and have not used PEDs (performancedrugs),” wrote Gatlin, who has twice served doping bans during a controversial career.

The 35-year-old American sprint star, said he had sacked Mitchell after hearing of the claims. Anti-doping officials have launched a probe into the claims while International Association of Athletics Federations president Seb Coe said athletics needed to do more to tackle the scourge of doping. — AFP