Olympian Justin Gatlin is now preparing to dominate once again the event which gave him the gold medal in the 2004 Summer Olympics. He was a record holder in the 100-meter. However his fame was tainted with performance enhancing drugs when he tested positive for steroids in 2006. Gatlin fought his case saying that a massage therapist intentionally used a steroid cream that caused his positive test. But this alibi did not prosper and he lost his battle.

The sanction for the American sprinter will end in July 24 but he may have a difficulty in returning to his sport since most European meet organizers have said that Gatlin is not welcome in the competition. They have a strong stance against athletes who were involved in the use of steroids. Even one of their famous track and field athlete Dwain Chambers was not spared in their policy.

Gatlin is lucky to have on his side the chief of the US Anti-Doping Agency. USADA chief Travis Tygart have said that once the suspension ends, Gatlin has the right to participate again in competitions. “He served his time,” Tygart told the Washington Post. “He ought to be fully reinstated. . . . The [World Anti-Doping Agency] Code ought to be upheld by any meet or organization that has adopted the Code. That’s the spirit of the Code. Anything short of that would be inequitable,” Tygart said.

He said that organizers should follow what the rule says. “If you want lifetime bans after the first offense, then you should be screaming and yelling about that, not disregarding a rule that is in place that allows someone to compete. That’s unfair,” he added.

Gatlin is still hoping that he will be able to run again and prove himself in the field. “I hope and pray I’m not blackballed. I just want to get back out there and run again. I’ve served my time. I’ve done my punishment. I want to be able to prove myself,” Gatlin said.

But European sports organizers does not have any intention to invite athletes who were former steroid user. According to Patrick K. Magyar, the president and meeting director for Weltklasse Zurich, Gatlin has massively damaged the sport. “It is very clear that we will not be in a position to invite him this or the upcoming years,” said Magyar.

Gatlin also cooperated with a federal investigation that involved his coach Trevor Graham. His help has led to the conviction of Graham and got a lifetime ban in coaching. However, this will not remove the speculations of many that he may be still involved in the use of performance enhancers. Gatlin was able to establish 9.77 record but in the last Olympics it was erased by Usain Bolt who is the current world record holder of 9.58 seconds.

Right now, Gatlin is under a long time track coach Loren Seagrave who also trained other prominent athletes and Olympians. He said in an interview that his group welcomed Gatlin because they believe that the sprinter will not do anything that will cause him a lifetime ban in the sport. “They do not condone the use of illegal performance-enhancing drugs, but on the other hand, he served his penalty. They feel comfortable that he is not going to do it again,” said Seagrave.

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