Track coach fights anti-doping officials in court

A courtroom struggle is brewing between track coach Jon Drummond and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.

The conflict began when the USADA hit sprinter Tyson Gay with a one-year suspension for using a banned substance. Gay cooperated with officials in the matter.

Drummond -- facing disciplinary action for his role in the situation -- subsequently filed a defamation lawsuit against the USADA and Gay for suggesting that he encouraged the sprinter to use a cream that contained the substance in question.

Drummond has alleged that Gay lied to authorities to win a lesser suspension.

The USADA is calling the coach’s lawsuit “baseless.”

“Mr. Drummond will have the opportunity to have his case heard by a panel of independent arbitrators, who will ultimately weigh all evidence presented and determine the outcome of the case,” USADA spokeswoman Annie Skinner said in a statement. “As in numerous previous cases, we will ask the court to dismiss Mr. Drummond’s lawsuit in favor of the well-established arbitration process.”