U.S. sprinter gets some support, but no relief

Justin Gatlin is trying to have his four-year-ban for doping rescinded.

PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) — Banned sprinter Justin Gatlin got support but no relief Tuesday from a federal judge who rescinded his order allowing the defending 100-meter champion to compete in this weekend’s Olympic track and field trials.

Judge Lacey Collier said that while he believed Gatlin “is being wronged,” he lacked jurisdiction over the U.S. Olympic Committee to determine who is eligible for the trials.

The former world 100- and 200-meter champion’s only recourse appears to be with the Swiss Federal Court, Collier wrote in his seven-page order.

Two weeks ago, the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld a four-year ban against Gatlin. He had asked CAS to rescind his first doping violation — from 2001 — which he had hoped would reduce his penalty to a two-year ban, allowing him to compete in the trials.

The 26-year-old sprinter’s first doping offense was a positive test for amphetamines at the 2001 junior nationals. The substance was part of medication Gatlin was taking for attention deficit disorder.

Gatlin received a two-year suspension but was reinstated after one year. He wants that offense erased, contending the punishment violated the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Gatlin’s second doping offense stems from a positive test at the Kansas Relays in 2006.

Collier wrote that he agreed with Gatlin’s argument, but lacked authority in the case.

“The result of this determination is quite troubling because Mr. Gatlin is being wronged, and the United States Courts have no power to right the wrong perpetrated upon one of its citizens,” Collier said.

He faulted the USOC for failing to consider the disabilities act.

“The basic argument from these defendants is that they are not interested in fairness for Mr. Gatlin; they are interested only in their rules,” the judge said.

Organizers of the track and field trials in Eugene, Ore., had been making plans Tuesday to have Gatlin compete in case Collier upheld his initial surprise ruling.

USA Track Field had no comment on the latest ruling.

On Monday, lawyers representing USA Track Field joined the U.S. Olympic Committee and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency in trying to persuade Collier to reconsider the order.

The lawyers told Collier he didn’t have jurisdiction over a case that Gatlin had unsuccessfully appealed to international arbitration panels. When Collier didn’t immediately indicate whether he’d stand by his order, the USOC took its arguments to the federal circuit court in Atlanta.

Collier said in Tuesday’s order that if the higher court ruled that he did indeed have authority over the case, which he said was unlikely, he would rule in Gatlin’s favor.