Justin Gatlin Unlikely To Compete in the Olympics Again

By Mark Hoerrner

At the ripe old age of 24, Gatlin is considered a grandfather in the sport. Much in the way that Olympic-level gymnastic competition is considered a sport for the teens, many events are giving athletes a very small window for achieving goals in their chosen sport. In accepting an 8-year ban from competition for his doping offenses, Gatlin has effectively retired. It’s not just that he’d be 32 and nearly one and a half times the age of most of his fellow competitors, but many athletes have said that it’s hard to stay competitive when you are not actually competing with anyone but yourself.

In addition to the 8-year ban, he’s also being stripped of his 100-meter world record finish from earlier this year.

Gatlin and his attorneys, however, are hoping for an arbitration-sponsored reduction from eight years to two or less, the Associated Press reports.

"We're shooting for something way less than two years," Gatlin's attorney, Cameron Myler, told the AP. "The goal is to have him back on the track as soon as possible."

The concession on the part of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency was minor considering that eight years virtually knocks Gatlin out of consideration. Even if arbitration is successful and the ban is reduced to two years, he’ll miss the qualifiers for Beijing in 2008.

The ability for arbitration comes as part of a unique deal struck between Gatlin and the USADA. Generally, athletes who test positive a second time are banned for life from competition.

"To his credit, it's recognition that the science is reliable," USADA general counsel Travis Tygart told the AP. "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 cooperate, we've recognized the nature of his first offense."

This test was actually Gatlin’s second, though his first was the result of an Attention Deficit Disorder medicine he was taking. He assisted officials at the time and was deemed not to have been trying to cheat the system.
"The nature of Gatlin's first offense for use of his medication puts this violation in a unique category," USADA chief executive officer Terry Madden said during an interview with the AP.

Peter Uebberroth, head of the U.S. Olympic Committee, felt Gatlin was creating a chance to display character among athletes.

"Since becoming an elite-level athlete, Justin has talked about the importance of eradicating doping in sport," Ueberroth said. "By acknowledging his doping positive and agreeing to work with USADA, Justin now has an opportunity to put those words into action. He can play a meaningful role in solving a problem that is reaching a crisis level in American sport."