Gatlin Faces Eight Year Ban
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Gatlin's career is over--at least for the next eight years.
24 year old Sprinter Justin Gatlin agreed to an eight-year ban from track and field Tuesday, avoiding a lifetime penalty in exchange for his cooperation with doping authorities and because of the "exceptional circumstances" surrounding his first positive drug test.
He will forfeit the world record he tied in May, when he ran the 100 meters in 9.77 seconds.
Gatlin's first offense came while he was in college and tested positive for banned medicine he was taking to control ADD. Consequently, he received a two-year ban.
His coach Trevor Graham, who's been involved with at least 6 athletes who've received drug suspensions, has maintained that Gatlin tested positive after a vengeful massage therapist used testosterone cream on the runner without his knowledge.
Source
- ESPN.COM
Date
Tue 08/22/06, 2:30 pm EST
