WORLD 100M CHAMPION Justin Gatlin, twice suspended for doping, could face another scandal after The Daily Telegraph reported on Monday that members of his entourage offered to sell undercover reporters performance-enhancing drugs.
The 35-year-old American sprint star has sacked coach Dennis Mitchell, according to the report, which revealed Mitchell and athletics agent Robert Wagner offered to provide false prescriptions for banned performance-enhancing substances and smuggle those drugs into the United States.
The Telegraph said investigations into the actions of those connected to Gatlin are being investigated by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), set up this year by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).
“Investigations stemming from tips and whistleblowers play a critical role in anti-doping efforts,” an unnamed USADA spokesman told the newspaper.
“We are presently coordinating with the Athletics Integrity Unit in order to investigate these claims fully.”
IAAF president Sebastian Coe, who said Gatlin’s win over Jamaican legend Usain Bolt last August at London in the world 100m final was not good for the sport, told the newspaper the claims were very serious.
“These allegations are extremely serious and I know the independent Athletics Integrity Unit will investigate in accordance with its mandate,” Coe said.
That came even as the 2017 world champion had legal advisers release five years of official drugs tests that showed he was clean. Gatlin was banned for doping in 2001 for one year and in 2006 for four years.
Gatlin’s longtime agent, Renaldo Nehemiah, told the newspaper that Wagner had represented Gatlin only two to three times and that Gatlin was not present when banned substances were discussed with Mitchell or Wagner.
Mitchell and Wagner allegedly offered to supply and administer testosterone and human growth hormone for an actor training for a film on athletics at a price of $250,000 (187,000 pounds), according to the report.
The newspaper said it began its investigation in July after hearing of agents and trainers involved in supplying drugs to athletes. The media outlet used reporters posing as film production company representatives seeking people to train a film star.
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Cheating the first time is difficult but it’s get easier every time. If world athletics bodies are serious there should be a lifetime ban for every offender, no excuses.
@EK:
Exactly, This can be easily done by making it too risky to cheat with illegal performance enhancers, a lifetime ban is the only way for proven cheats.
It’s a pretty big jump to drag Justin into this story other than for clickbait….and if I was offered 250,000 dollars I’d get my hands on some performance enhancing drugs for you too.
@Markonline: ah do you not think the PEDs made that jump a bit easier ??
@Limón Madrugada: it’s his coaches, not Gatlin.
@Markonline: Fair play, its all about the way you were brought up i suppose….
@Minom Pnnomm: so he did win a gold on drugs.
Hgh is everywhere..athletics and most sports at the highest level are a game of not getting caught
“Why always me?”
What a dope
How does this implicate Gatlin? Surely this applies to the BBC sports personality Of The year.
@Darren Egan: good point on the double standards. Plenty of potentially dodge English athletes. Farah and Kelly Holmes at the top of the list
Sir Bradley Williams…sky cycling in general
Who honestly gives a crap. So he runs one hundred metres really fast. Who gives a crap. I still have to go to work in the morning
Gatlin should have never been allowed to compete after the first time. Cheats have destroyed genuine competitors lives and taken the accolades deserving to them, Sonia O’ Sullivan comes to mind.
Seb Coe – what a clown
@Shane Gleeson: disaster of a tenure in his job generally.
And still the British press ignore the stink surrounding Mo Farah.
Anyone on a TUE from Waa is a cheat in my book, I think they are ALL on drugs but that is my personal opinion?