Gatlin’s coach steps down as US relay boss for Rio

NORTH CAROLINA: The coach of sprinter Justin Gatlin has stepped down as the head of the United States relay squads just months out from the Rio Olympics due to a change in USA Track and Field’s criteria.

Dennis Mitchell, who served a doping ban in 1999, told Reuters on Monday he had learned he fell outside new guidelines for coaching America’s relay teams and had decided to step down.

The change prohibits coaches with likely relay candidates from being the relay coach. World sprint medallist Gatlin is expected to anchor the US 4x100 metres relay in Rio.

USATF’s High Performance Division Executive Committee made the modif ication with input from the Athletes Advisory Committee, USATF spokeswoman Jill Geer said.

“They have added a provision, intended to minimize potential or perceived conflicts, that prohibits an individual from being the relay coach if he or she coaches an athlete who has a high likelihood of being part of the relay pool,” Geer said in an email to Reuters.

“As a result of that new provision, Dennis Mitchell has resigned his position.” Geer added Mitchell had been approved by the US Olympic Committee for the position.

The 50-year- old had been the relay coach since 2014, though his selection had been controversial because of his 1998 positive test for the banned hormone testosterone. — Reuters