Share

Gatlin to race 200m at Eugene

Eugene - US sprinter Justin Gatlin, who posted the top 100m time of 2015 in Doha last week, will race his first 200m of the world championship season at the Eugene Diamond League meeting on May 30.

Organizers said the 33-year-old, who is the reigning two-time IAAF Diamond Trophy winner at 100m, will go up against 2014 200m Diamond Trophy winner Alonso Edward of Panama.

The field is also slated to include Jamaican Nickel Ashmeade, who won the last 200m contested at Eugene in 2013.

Gatlin, who clocked a world-leading 9.74sec at the Diamond League meeting in Doha on Friday hasn't lost a race at any distance since 2013, including a 200m best of 19.68 posted last year.

His wind-aided 9.76 in the 100m at Eugene last year was the fastest in meet history under any conditions.

Since his sizzling Doha performance, Gatlin - who served a four-year doping ban that ended in 2010 - was involved this week in controversy at the World Challenge meeting at Beijing.

He claimed he was expelled by organizers who believed he was carrying an injury.

Meet officials, however, said they were "perplexed" by Gatlin's claim he was treated disrespectfully, adding that the sprinter's manager had not communicated with them before Gatlin announced his withdrawal at a pre-meet press conference.

Gatlin, who had told reporters he wanted to run despite suffering from cramps after arriving from Doha, later said on Twitter the whole incident had been smoothed over.

"All is fine with Beijing org & me," he tweeted."We have a great relationship and I look forward to being there in Aug for worlds & next year for the meet."

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
How much would you be prepared to pay for a ticket to watch the Springboks play against the All Blacks at Ellis Park or Cape Town Stadium this year?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
R0 - R200
33% - 1802 votes
R200 - R500
32% - 1765 votes
R500 - R800
19% - 1067 votes
R800 - R1500
8% - 449 votes
R1500 - R2500
3% - 184 votes
I'd pay anything! It's the Boks v All Blacks!
4% - 247 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE