The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Controversial sprint champion speaks out after gatecrashing Bolt’s
Justin Gatlin insisted his pariah status was undeserved as the least popular world 100m champion in history still refused to see his triumph over Usain Bolt as a setback for the sport.
The two-time drug cheat’s victory on Saturday night in 9.92 seconds was greeted by boos, as his every appearance at the London Stadium has been.
There is no hiding from the embarrassment the unrepentant American’s victory will cause to a sport still struggling to regain credibility in the wake of repeated doping scandals.
The retiring Bolt, cast as the ‘saviour’ of athletics in his battles with Gatlin, had his goodbye gatecrashed by the one man almost no one wanted to spoil the party.
Gatlin was effusive and gracious in his praise of bronze medallist Bolt after the race, bowing down to him on the track and lauding him in interviews, but for the 35-year-old sorry still seems to be the hardest word.
His first ban in 2001 he blamed on an amphetamine contained in attention deficit disorder medication.
The second in 2006, which resulted in a four-year suspension, reduced from eight on appeal, he attributed to a testosterone massage cream applied to his body without his knowledge.
Remorse has not been forthcoming – and still, at least publicly, is not.
Asked if he could understand why his victory was seen as a disaster for the sport, he said: “I really don’t need to understand.
“I can understand the rivalry that I have with Usain, but it’s not a bitter rivalry. I respect the man and every time we come across the line I’ve shaken his hand, given him a hug and told him congratulations and that’s all that really matters for me.
“I’m just a runner, I’m back in the sport, I’ve done my time.
“I’vecomeback,didcommunityservice, I talked to kids and inspired kids about the right path. That’s all I can do.
“Society does that for people who have made mistakes and I hope track and field can understand that to. That’s why I’m back in the sport and that’s why I’m still running.”
After the race Bolt was angered by a suggestion this year’s slower times – only he and Coleman broke 10 seconds before the final – came after a doping crackdown and insisted Gatlin had nothing to answer for now.
He said: “I’m sure everyone takes that very disrespectfully. We’ve proved we’ve worked hard, Justin has done his time over the years and has proven himself over and over again.
“I have proven myself over and over again, the young kid Coleman is coming in and has performed great and has shown the world he is going to be a great athlete.
“There’s something called injury and sometimes everything doesn’t go as smoothly as you want to – there’s wind and so many other things.”
He added: “Justin was the better man and he executed it well. For me he deserves to be here because he’s done his time and worked hard to get back to be one of the best athletes.
“He’s been injured and he’s come back. He’s like any other competitor.”
Plenty of athletes have returned from bans and won medals and received far warmer receptions.
Asked about his “bad boy” reputation, Gatlin said: “What do I do that makes me a bad boy?
“Do I talk bad about anybody? Do I give bad gestures? I don’t. I shake every athlete’s hand. I congratulate them, I tell them good luck. That doesn’t sound like a bad boy to me.
“It seems like the media want to sensationalise it and make me a bad boy because Usain is the hero.
“That’s fine, I know you’ve got to have a black hat and a white hat, but guys, come on.
“I keep it classy and I never talk bad. I try to inspire other athletes. I don’t see where the bad boy comes from.”
Lord Coe admitted he was far from “eulogistic” to see Gatlin get the gold.
Coe, president of world athletics governing body the IAAF, conceded it was “not the perfect script”.
Speaking on BBC 5 Live’s Sportsweek, Coe said: “I’m hardly going to sit here and tell you I’m eulogistic that somebody that has served two bans in our sport would walk off with one of our glittering prizes, but he is eligible to be here.”
I’m just a runner, I’m back in the sport, I’ve done my time. JUSTIN GATLIN