Gatlin’s Statement Leaves Questions

Justin Gatlin, who was suspended for eight years this week by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), said Friday that he had “never knowingly used any banned substance,” protesting that “cheating in any form is completely contrary to who I am as an athlete and a person.”

In a statement released through his New York public relations agency, Gatlin also seemed to suggest he was not ready to accept the eight-year suspension. “Contrary to what has been reported, I have not agreed to any penalties whatsoever,” Gatlin said. “I expect when the process is concluded that this entire matter will be resolved favorably.”

Gatlin, the national sprint champion, tested positive for testosterone and steroids last spring at the Kansas Relays.

Tuesday, USADA officials said Gatlin acknowledged the accuracy of the drug test results and would cooperate in any investigations. In return USADA would not give Gatlin, the defending Olympic and world 100-meter champion, a lifetime ban and left open the possibility the eight-year penalty might be reduced. USADA officials did not return calls for comment in response to Gatlin’s statement.

“It’s a real puzzling statement,” Mark Wetmore, meet director of the Adidas Track Classic in Los Angeles, said of Gatlin’s Friday proclamation.

“It sounds like he has a different idea than accepting an eight-year ban. But assuming everything about his test is as reported, this is all a necessary step. I actually feel much better about track in our country because two people, high-profile people, have been caught on U.S. soil in U.S.-sponsored meets. No hiding. If you cheat, we’re going to catch you.”

Sprinter Marion Jones, a three-time gold medalist at the Sydney Olympics, was revealed last week to have failed a drug test at the U.S. nationals in Indianapolis.

Jones also has denied knowing how it was possible that she tested positive for blood-boosting erythropoietin (EPO).

Also Friday, according to company spokesman Dean Stoyer, Nike suspended Gatlin’s endorsement contract and terminated a contract it had with Trevor Graham, the coach of Gatlin and Jones.

Graham, who has recently been banned from working at any USA track facility, had suggested Gatlin had been sabotaged by a masseuse using a cream with banned substances.

Steve Ungerleider, an Oregon researcher who wrote the acclaimed book “Faust’s Gold,” about the former East German doping regime, said it would take more responses like Nike’s before athletes and sports officials would begin to understand that doping has consequences.

“When Nike comes out and says, ‘Hey, this is bad stuff. We’re not going to tolerate this whatever excuse the athlete makes,’ if they come out and say, ‘Hey, we’re not going to play this game anymore, it’s not what we’re about,’ I think you’d start to see a shift away from this stuff.”

Said Gatlin: “As an athlete it is frustrating for me to be on the sidelines and have people drawing conclusions that I have cheated.”