Gay, Gatlin set for Swiss showdown

American sprinter Tyson Gay returns against fellow drug cheat Justin Gatlin at the Lausanne Diamond League event.

Gay will race American rival Justin Gatlin who also served a doping ban from 2006-2010 [Getty Images]

Former world sprint champion Tyson Gay will return from a one-year doping suspension at next month’s Lausanne Diamond League meeting, organisers said.

The US record holder was suspended after a 2013 positive test for an anabolic steroid. He will race American rival Justin Gatlin who served a four-year doping ban over 100 metres at the July 3 meeting. 

Lausanne has always been one of my favourite meets, and I'm thrilled to have it be my opening meet.

by Tyson Gay, US record holder

The US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) said last month that Gay, the world’s joint second fastest man, had accepted a one-year suspension backdated to June 23, 2013 after offering what it termed substantial assistance in his case.

“Lausanne has always been one of my favourite meets, and I’m thrilled to have it be my opening meet,” said Gay, noting he had been in training for several months.

Gay also returned his silver medal from the 4×100 metres relay at the 2012 London Olympics.

The controversial decision meant Gay would be eligible to compete from June 23.

Gay’s ban reduced

Normally athletes receive a two-year suspension for their first doping offence but under anti-doping rules the ban can be reduced for substantial cooperation.

In 2011 there was a reversal of a policy by the Euromeetings group of organisers which had been to not invite any athlete who had received a doping ban of two years or more.

Gatlin ran world-leading 9.87 seconds in Beijing earlier this month and more recently won the Eugene Diamond League 100m with a wind-assisted 9.76 seconds.

Source: Reuters