Gatlin denies cheating

LOS ANGELES – Embattled sprint king Justin Gatlin, who had already vowed to fight an eight-year doping ban, has again insisted he “never knowingly used any banned substance,” and said he expects to be exonerated.

In a statement released Friday through his publicist, Gatlin insisted that “cheating in any form is completely contrary to who I am as an athlete and a person.” And he reiterated that he would fight the US Anti-Doping Agency’s bid to impose an eight-year ban in the wake of his positive test for elevated levels of testosterone at the Kansas Relays in April.”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 favourably.”Gatlin is among an elite group of athletes – including Americans Carl Lewis and Maurice Greene and Canadian Donovan Bailey – to hold the 100m world and Olympic titles along with the world record.Nampa-AFPAnd he reiterated that he would fight the US Anti-Doping Agency’s bid to impose an eight-year ban in the wake of his positive test for elevated levels of testosterone at the Kansas Relays in April.”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 favourably.”Gatlin is among an elite group of athletes – including Americans Carl Lewis and Maurice Greene and Canadian Donovan Bailey – to hold the 100m world and Olympic titles along with the world record.Nampa-AFP