Sunday, July 30, 2006

Gatlin Facing Possible Lifetime Ban

While his coach claimed Justin Gatlin's positive drug test was a result of sabotage, the leader of the World Anti-Doping Agency on Sunday called for the American sprinter to be banned for "up to life" if the results are confirmed. Gatlin's coach, Trevor Graham, said in an interview on Jamaican television that the Olympic and world champion and co-world-record holder in the 100 meters was victim of a setup. "We are 100 percent sure who it is," Graham said. "The individual that did it, it's an individual that we fired and we went back and hired ... he came to the Kansas relay and was (upset) with Justin." On Saturday, Gatlin acknowledged he had been informed by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency that he had tested positive for testosterone or other steroids after a relay race in Kansas in April.