Athletics: Gatlin Accepts Eight-year Ban

Justin Gatlin, the Olympic and world 100 metres champion and joint world-record holder, last night admitted he had committed a doping offence and accepted an eight-year ban that effectively signals the end of the American's career, as he will not be eligible to compete again until he is 32, two years after the 2012 London Olympics.

The United States Anti-Doping Agency announced that Gatlin has agreed to the validity of his positive test for testosterone in April and "promised to co-operate" in anti-doping efforts, as first reported in the Guardian on August 11.

In exchange, USADA said it would not seek a life ban which they could under the rules of the International Association of Athletics Federations as Gatlin previously tested positive for amphetamines, which they have accepted was a genuine mistake.

Gatlin's promise to co-operate is likely to include his willingness to provide evidence against his coach Trevor Graham, who has been the target of USADA for nearly three years. Gatlin is one of 11 athletes to have been suspended for doping violations while they were being coached by Graham, who also previously trained Marion Jones, who is facing a two-year ban after testing positive for EPO. His share of the 100m world record equalled in May, when Gatlin clocked 9.77sec in Doha, will also be forfeited.

Jamaica's Asafa Powell will then be the sole holder of the sport's most prestigious mark. At 24, even an eight-year ban spells the end of Gatlin's career but his willingness to co-operate could save him from facing criminal charges under the ongoing FBI investigation into the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, the California clinic he and Graham have been linked with.

The USA Track and Field chief executive, Craig Masback last night said: "While we are glad Justin has taken responsibility for his positive test and will co-operate in USADA's anti-doping efforts, we are sorely disappointed in him."

Gatlin tested positive in April for testosterone, five years after his first positive test, which was for medicine to control attention-deficit disorder. Under the World Anti-Doping Agency code, a second doping offence calls for a lifetime ban. But under the compromise reached with USADA, he can still appeal to an arbitration panel in the next six months to have the term reduced. He cannot, however, dispute the test result and it is unlikely he would be treated with much sympathy.

"It's recognition that the science is reliable," USADA's general counsel Travis Tygart said. "Instead of wasting a bunch of resources attempting to create smoke where there's not any, he's acknowledging the accuracy of the positive test and, in exchange for his agreement to co-operate, we've recognised the nature of his first offence."

That came while Gatlin was in college. He stopped taking the ADD medicine a few days before competition but it did not clear his system. He received a two-year ban for that test, reduced by a year because of the offence's "exceptional circumstances". USADA's chief executive officer Terry Madden said: "The nature of Gatlin's first offence for use of his medication puts this violation in a unique category."

This time, Gatlin has said he did not know how steroids got into his system. Graham claimed Gatlin tested positive after a massage therapist used testosterone cream on the runner without his knowledge. But Gatlin and his legal team have distanced themselves from that claim.

"He accepted liability," Tygart said. "He agreed not to raise technical arguments or frivolous defences. He has an opportunity to go to a panel of arbitrators and argue exceptional circumstances."