Gatlin: New 100m WR

[tedginn05]

Well if he does get banned for life(However I highly doubt that happens), that reopens the possibility of him playing pro ball for the Eagles.

[ScarletBlood31]

What a shame.

[bkochmc]

Originally Posted by tedginn05

Well if he does get banned for life(However I highly doubt that happens), that reopens the possibility of him playing pro ball for the Eagles.

First offense, if this ends up being valid, will be a 1-2 year suspension. I believe the second offense is life. Hopefully for this sport it is not true... it will be a major setback if it is. Just like Landis, I'll reserve judgement until the second test results...

[BB73]

Originally Posted by bkochmc

First offense, if this ends up being valid, will be a 1-2 year suspension. I believe the second offense is life. Hopefully for this sport it is not true... it will be a major setback if it is. Just like Landis, I'll reserve judgement until the second test results...

I don't know why you're saying first offense. From the article on the previous page:

One of the loudest voices in the quest to clean up his sport, Gatlin he was "particularly sensitive to this issue" because he tested positive in college for a banned substance contained in Adderall, which he took to calm attention deficit disorder. He served a two-year ban in international competition after that infraction, meaning another positive test could result in a lifetime ban.

[OH10]

I don't know why, but I believe Gatlin on this one. I mean, he really had nothing to gain and everything to lose. The only thing that would account for him taking performance enhancing drugs would be ego, which is the same case with Barry Bonds.

But I don't know. Don't ask me to give a solid reponse, but I don't think he cheated. Just a gut feeling.

[bkochmc]

Originally Posted by BB73

I don't know why you're saying first offense. From the article on the previous page:

<-- That's me. Don't know how I missed that (besides the obvious skimming of the article). Thanks for setting me straight.

My apologies to Teddy also as his comments are correct.

[methomps]

Link

Gatlin can have his lifetime ban reduced to 8 years if he testifies against his coach. Doesn't seem like much of an incentive. Eight years might as well be a lifetime ban.

[bkochmc]

CNNSI

Escape hatch for Gatlin

USADA won't ban sprinter if he testifies against coach

Posted: Friday August 11, 2006 2:00PM; Updated: Friday August 11, 2006 2:48PM

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American sprinter Justin Gatlin faces a lifetime ban after failing two doping tests.
Peter Read Miller/SI


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</td></tr></tbody></table>LONDON (AP) -- Justin Gatlin could escape a lifetime ban if he testifies against his coach.
By testifying against Trevor Graham, Gatlin would exercise the "substantial assistance" provision in the World Anti-Doping Agency's code, which reduces the ban by proving "he or she bears no significant fault or negligence" in the violation.
The 24-year-old American sprinter faces the ban after a second positive doping test, but that could be reduced to eight years if Gatlin provides information against his coach.
"Since we don't have any criminal investigative powers -- like wiretaps, warrants for searching premises, etc. -- it takes information coming to us from people aiming for a reduction in their own doping sentences," said general counsel Travis Tygart, who refused to comment on Gatlin or any other specific cases before USADA.
"It's one way we can continue to actively pursue those involved in doping practices."
Gatlin, the Olympic and world champion and co-world record holder in the 100 meters, tested positive for testosterone or other steroids after a relay race in Kansas in April. He denies knowingly using banned substances.
"If an athlete can provide information on individuals involved in doping conspiracies and can help us catch distributors or users of these drugs we would always welcome that evidence," Tygart said.
The International Association of Athletics Federations said Thursday it would investigate the activities of Graham in conjunction with USADA.
Graham, who once trained five-time Olympic medalist Marion Jones, has been involved with at least a half-dozen athletes who have received drug suspensions.
Graham has always denied direct knowledge or involvement with drug use and claimed that Gatlin was the victim of a massage therapist who rubbed testosterone cream on the sprinter's legs without his knowledge after the race.
Sprinter Kelli White received a two-year suspension after testing positive for modafinil at the 2003 world championships in Paris. She cooperated with USADA and helped indict four men on federal charges in the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative case -- including founder Victor Conte and her former coach Remi Korchemny.
Korchemny also worked with British sprinter Dwain Chambers, who was banned for two years in the BALCO case after testing positive for the steroid tetrahydrogestrinone -- THG -- in an out-of-competition test in Germany in August 2004.
Graham helped launch the federal investigation of BALCO three years ago by anonymously mailing a syringe containing a previously undetectable steroid to USADA. He is reportedly under investigation in the BALCO steroid probe.
The U.S. Olympic Committee has barred Graham from using its training centers and training sites as a result of his suspected lin