Gatlin sees ban reduced to 4 years, plans to appeal.
January 3rd 2008 13:43
The decision means that Gatlin will once again be eligible to compete in May 2010.
Gatlin returned a positive test result for the second time in April 2006 after taking large quantities of Testosterone.
As a junior Gatlin also tested positive for Amphetamines in 2001 but was reinstated after just one year of a two year ban due to appeal.
Gatlin’s legal team maintained that the amphetamines were absorbed into his blood stream as part of a medication he was taking for attention deficit disorder.
As his second offence the doping regulations dictated a life time ban from the sport but the 25-year-old was originally given an eight-year ban instead of a lifetime sanction after agreeing to help Usada's anti-doping campaign.
USADA official Travis Tygart told the assembled press “Given his cooperation and the circumstances relating to Mr Gatlin's first offence, the four-year penalty issued by the arbitration panel is a fair and just outcome.”
Gatlin has always maintained that he has never knowingly taken performance enhancing substances, “have never knowingly used any banned substance or authorised anyone to administer such a substance to me.” He told reporters on admitting he had failed a test for the second time.
Gatlin’s legal team will appeal the four year ban on the basis that their client’s first positive test in 2001 be stricken from the record due to its extraordinary circumstances and successful appeal.
They will then argue that the 2006 positive test be classed as a first offence which results in a 2 year ban which they will not appeal as they have already admitted blame.
However a 2 year ban will mean Gatlin can compete from the 24th of May 2008 leaving him enough time to qualify for the USA Olympic trials on the 27th of June and then go on to the Olympics to try and successfully defend the title he won in 2004.
The chances of this series of events coming to fruition are rather high for various reasons and it would be a grave mistake to dismiss Gatlin’s chances after having a lifetime ban reduced to 8 years and then 4 years.
For one the legal precedent given to Gatlin in 2002 when he successfully appealed his first suspension dictates that the previous conviction was unsafe and therefore should not stand against Gatlin.
Secondly, Gatlin’s lawyers will also point out how they have cooperated fully with anti-doping authorities in the war against drugs since their client’s positive test and Gatlin himself has had a positive impact in cleaning up the sport.
Gatlin for 2008 Olympic champ?
Don’t count it out just yet.
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