GATLIN AT CENTRE OF NEW STORM OVER DRUGS
WORLD 100 metres champion Justin gatlin has been caught up in another doping scandal after members of his coaching and management team were alleged to have offered drugs to an undercover reporter.
The American sprinter, twice convicted of using banned substances and booed by the London Stadium crowd after beating Usain Bolt to claim his crown in August, is part of an investigation by the Athletics Integrity Unit.
The body, which was set up by the International Association of Athletics Federations and the US Anti-Doping Agency, have confirmed they are looking at gatlin as well as his agent Robert Wagner and coach Dennis Mitchell. Undercover reporters from the
Daily Telegraph posed as film company representatives wanting to make a sports film. They said they were looking for a coach to train their star to look like an athlete. They claim Wagner and Mitchell suggested testosterone and human growth hormone would help the actor get in shape and offered to supply it via a doctor in Austria.
gatlin has denied any involvement, and his legal representatives have announced that he has sacked his coach. But the revelations will be a blow to the 35-year-old who was banned for doping in 2001 and again in 2006.
His reputation and continued controversy around his return to the sport tarnished his gold medal at the London Stadium, where in the eyes of some fans he ruined what was meant to be Bolt’s emotional farewell to the sport.
gatlin and the USA team were pipped for gold by great Britain in the 4x100m relay.
Since returning to the track, gatlin has claimed to be clean and has offered to release data from tests in the past five years.
Lord Coe, the IAAF president, said: ‘ These allegations are extremely serious and I know the independent Athletics Integrity Unit will investigate in accordance with its mandate.’