TDMVPDPOY
08-22-2006, 11:41 PM
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20224404-11088,00.html
SPRINTER Justin Gatlin agreed to an eight-year ban from athletics today for testing positive to drugs. He also forfeits the world 100m record he shares.
American anti-doping authorities said the deal means Gatlin will avoid a lifetime ban in exchange for his co-operation with doping authorities and because of the ``exceptional circumstances'' surrounding his first positive test.
Gatlin, 24, who shared the 100m world record of 9.77sec with Asafa Powell, tested positive in April for testosterone or other steroids.
In making the agreement with the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), Gatlin can still appeal to an arbitration panel in the next six months to have the term reduced.
But he cannot argue the test was faulty.
"To his credit, it's recognition that the science is reliable,'' USADA general counsel Travis Tygart said.
"Instead of wasting a bunch of resources attempting to create smoke where there's not any, he's acknowledging the accuracy of the positive test.
"In exchange for his agreement to cooperate, we've recognised the nature of his first offence.''
The sprinter's first offence came while he was in college and tested positive for banned medicine he was taking to control attention-deficit disorder. He received a two-year ban for that test.
Gatlin said he did not know how steroids got into his system this time.
His coach, Trevor Graham, who has been involved with at least a half-dozen athletes who have received doping suspensions, has contended Gatlin tested positive after a vengeful massage therapist used testosterone cream on the runner without his knowledge.
Gatlin's attorney has not acknowledged that allegation.
Under the World Anti-Doping Agency code, a second offence calls for a lifetime ban.
At 24, an eight-year ban would pretty much knock Gatlin out of competition for life.
Still, USADA looks at this as a significant compromise - and the arbitration process could bring Gatlin back much sooner than eight years.
"He accepted liability,'' Tygart said.
"He agreed not to raise technical arguments or frivolous defences.
"`He has an opportunity to go to a panel of arbitrators and argue exceptional circumstances.''
does he also forfeit his medals?
SPRINTER Justin Gatlin agreed to an eight-year ban from athletics today for testing positive to drugs. He also forfeits the world 100m record he shares.
American anti-doping authorities said the deal means Gatlin will avoid a lifetime ban in exchange for his co-operation with doping authorities and because of the ``exceptional circumstances'' surrounding his first positive test.
Gatlin, 24, who shared the 100m world record of 9.77sec with Asafa Powell, tested positive in April for testosterone or other steroids.
In making the agreement with the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), Gatlin can still appeal to an arbitration panel in the next six months to have the term reduced.
But he cannot argue the test was faulty.
"To his credit, it's recognition that the science is reliable,'' USADA general counsel Travis Tygart said.
"Instead of wasting a bunch of resources attempting to create smoke where there's not any, he's acknowledging the accuracy of the positive test.
"In exchange for his agreement to cooperate, we've recognised the nature of his first offence.''
The sprinter's first offence came while he was in college and tested positive for banned medicine he was taking to control attention-deficit disorder. He received a two-year ban for that test.
Gatlin said he did not know how steroids got into his system this time.
His coach, Trevor Graham, who has been involved with at least a half-dozen athletes who have received doping suspensions, has contended Gatlin tested positive after a vengeful massage therapist used testosterone cream on the runner without his knowledge.
Gatlin's attorney has not acknowledged that allegation.
Under the World Anti-Doping Agency code, a second offence calls for a lifetime ban.
At 24, an eight-year ban would pretty much knock Gatlin out of competition for life.
Still, USADA looks at this as a significant compromise - and the arbitration process could bring Gatlin back much sooner than eight years.
"He accepted liability,'' Tygart said.
"He agreed not to raise technical arguments or frivolous defences.
"`He has an opportunity to go to a panel of arbitrators and argue exceptional circumstances.''
does he also forfeit his medals?