Gatlin's ban to be reduced?
2006-08-24 09:20
London - Sprinter Justin Gatlin must
serve at least four years of his doping ban, an International
Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) spokesperson has said.
The American Olympic and world 100m champion was
banned for up to eight years on Tuesday after agreeing that his
positive drugs test constituted a doping violation.
Gatlin also agreed to help fight drug abuse in the sport,
and the actual length of his suspension will be decided by an
arbitration panel.
"Four years would be the minimum," IAAF spokesman Nick
Davies told the BBC. "We want to see if it leads to other
convictions.
"We want him to tell the truth about what really happened.
If Gatlin just says 'I don't know what happened,' that's not
good enough."
The 24-year-old Gatlin, who has lost his share of the 100 m world record, tested positive for the male sex hormone
testosterone at the Kansas Relays in April for reasons he said
he did not know.
It was his second positive test, which under anti-doping
rules could have resulted in a life ban.