Justin Gatlin - Doping Case

Doping Case

On July 29, 2006 Justin Gatlin told the media that he had been informed by the USADA that he had given a positive doping test in April the same year. He did, however, claim his innocence in the matter: "I cannot account for these results, because I have never knowingly used any banned substance or authorized anyone to administer such a substance to me."

It is believed that the substance that Gatlin has tested positive for was "testosterone or its precursor." The failed test was revealed after a relay race on April 22, 2006 in Lawrence, Kansas. The "B" sample was confirmed as positive in July.

Gatlin is coached by Trevor Graham. Among athletes Graham has coached, eight have tested positive or received bans for performance enhancing drugs. After Gatlin's failed test, Graham stated in an interview that Gatlin had been sabotaged. Specifically, he blamed massage therapist Christopher Whetstine for rubbing a creme with testosterone onto Gatlin's buttocks without his knowledge. The therapist denied this claim, saying: "Trevor Graham is not speaking on behalf of Justin Gatlin and the story about me is not true."

On August 22, 2006 Gatlin agreed to an eight-year ban from track and field, avoiding a lifetime ban in exchange for his cooperation with the doping authorities, and because of the "exceptional circumstances" surrounding his first positive drug test. However, on December 31, 2007, in the final ruling, Gatlin received a four-year ban from athletics. Furthermore, his 9.77 performance, set in May 2006, was annulled.