PHILADELPHIA, USA – Theguardian.com writes that Justin Gatlin has said athletes returning from doping bans deserve to be given a second chance.
This comes in the wake of Usain Bolt’s comments that Tyson Gay’s one-year ban was “the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard”.
Speaking to the Guardian at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia – where he will compete in the USA vs. the World 4x100m relay on Saturday – Gatlin said that while he respects the opinion of Bolt, he is looking forward to seeing American teammate Gay getting back to the sport’s top tier.
“That’s a fight between Tyson and Usain,” Gatlin said. “They’ve had many battles in the past, so hopefully Tyson will come back on his A-game and it’ll make a good competition. Everyone should give a second chance, but everyone is also entitled to their opinion. I can’t say that what Usain has said is bad or good. It’s an opinion, and everybody is entitled to their opinion, so I respect what he says.”
His first individual 100 m is planned for Doha Diamond League opener.
