American Justin Gatlin received an eight-year ban Tuesday, avoiding a lifetime penalty in exchange for his cooperation with doping authorities and because an earlier positive drug test was deemed a mistake.
He also will forfeit the 100-meter world record he tied in May (9.77 seconds). And at 24, his career could be over.
Gatlin tested positive in April for testosterone or other steroids, five years after his first positive test, which was for medicine to control attention-deficit disorder. Since that first test, Gatlin has positioned himself as a champion of drug-free competition.
Under the World Anti-Doping Agency code, a second offense calls for a lifetime ban. But Gatlin reached a compromise with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which levies doping penalties in America. Under terms of the deal, he can appeal to an arbitration panel to have the term reduced in the next six months.
The Olympics are less than two years away, meaning even if Gatlin's suspension were reduced to two years, he couldn't compete.
"We're shooting for something way less than two years," Gatlin's attorney, Cameron Myler, said. "The goal is to have him back on the track as soon as possible."
When Gatlin appeals, however, he cannot argue the test was faulty.
"To his credit, it's recognition that the science is reliable," USADA 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 cooperate, we've recognized the nature of his first offense."
The first offense occurred while Gatlin was in college. He stopped taking his medicine a few days before competition, but it did not clear his system. He received a two-year ban, which was reduced by a year because of "exceptional circumstances."
Gatlin has said he doesn't know how steroids got into his system this time.
Another of his attorneys, John Collins, said Gatlin would spell out his case at the arbitration hearing. He would not discuss strategy.
"The last time this happened, he went to the panel and explained he neither cheated nor intended to cheat," Collins said. "This time, we'll explain the full stack of circumstances and everything around it, and hopefully, we'll get a similar result."
He said the circumstances "indicate he deserves something far less than eight years, if anything."
Collins wouldn't confirm the argument would be based on claims by Gatlin's coach, Trevor Graham, who alleged a vengeful massage therapist used testosterone cream without Gatlin's knowledge. Graham has been involved with other athletes who have received drug suspensions and has been barred from U.S. Olympic Committee training sites.
Graham's attorney, Joe Zeszotarski, released a statement supporting Gatlin.
"As Trevor has stated publicly, he completely supports Justin Gatlin and Justin's cooperation with USADA and efforts to get reinstated," it said. "Trevor knows he has done nothing wrong in his relationship with Justin or any of his athletes and only wants the truth to come out."
