Masback 'disappointed' in banned Gatlin
US Track and Field chief executive officer Craig Masback has expressed his disappointment in Justin Gatlin after the world and Olympic 100 metres champion was banned for a maximum of eight years after admitting his positive test “constituted a doping violation”.
The 24-year-old American was facing the prospect of a life ban after testing positive for testosterone at the Kansas Relays on April 22 but was spared after agreeing to “cooperate in the effort to eradicate the use of drugs from sport”.
Gatlin first failed a drugs test five years ago when amphetamines were found in his samples at the USA Junior Championships.
Although the global governing body IAAF later accepted he was using the medication to treat Attention Deficit Disorder, it was still registered as a first offence and under the two-strikes rule, Gatlin faced being thrown out of the sport for good.
Under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code a second ban should constitute a lifetime ban unless the athlete can produce a compelling reason to have it reduced.
However, Gatlin, who is also set to be stripped of the world record he holds jointly with Asafa Powell, has agreed to cooperate with the authorities “by providing information that may assist in (United States Anti-Doping Agency) USADA’s anti-doping efforts”.
Masback said: “Justin Gatlin’s doping case has been a setback in our sport. While we are glad Justin has taken responsibility for his positive test and will co-operate in USADA’s anti-doping efforts, we are sorely disappointed in him.
“Our Zero Tolerance programme is focused on educating athletes about the importance of winning with integrity.
“This case is a clear signal that we must redouble our efforts and seek ways to deter drug use and to punish anyone who may influence athletes to use drugs.”
In making the agreement Gatlin can still appeal to an arbitration panel - under the USADA Protocol for Olympic Movement Testing – in the next six months to have the eight-year ban reduced.
A statement from USADA chief executive officer Terry Madden read: “The nature of Gatlin’s first offence for use of his medication puts this violation in a unique category.
“Given these circumstances, and consistent with the international CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) precedent, a maximum of an eight-year suspension is a fair and just outcome.”
The ban began on August 15 although Gatlin started serving a provisional ban on July 25, meaning his suspension will run until July 24, 2014 if he fails to get it reduced.
Gatlin is coached by Trevor Graham, who is himself under investigation because of the large number of his athletes who have been involved in doping cases, the most famous before Gatlin being Tim Montgomery who was stripped of his world record.
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