Justin Gatlin’s preparations for the upcoming world championships picked up a victory as the former Olympic champion won the 100m at a meet in Madrid on Saturday.
Gatlin’s time of 10.10 seconds came in a headwind as he edged Britain’s Dwain Chambers (10.13) and fellow American Travis Padgett (10.18) at the Moratalaz municipal center for his second win in the distance in his comeback.
“I’m just taking it step-by-step, race-by-race and every event I’ve been in has had good competition and that elevates me so I get to world championships,” Gatlin said.
Photo: EPA
Gatlin, who won Olympic gold in 2004, before world titles in the 100m and 200m one year later, returned last year after serving a four-year ban following a second positive drug test.
The Madrid meet, a world challenge level event, is one of the few the 29-year-old has been invited to in Europe as the continent’s top track and field officials have sought to exclude former drug cheats from major European one-day track events. However, the 12-year policy is up for discussion.
“I’m hearing different kind of news every day about being able to race at different races,” Gatlin said. “Right now, wherever they put me at — if they put me on the moon I’m gonna race on the moon.”
Gatlin’s second-place finish at the US Championships last month qualified him for the Daegu, South Korea, worlds.
Gatlin said making up for his long absence was driving his quest to reach next year’s Olympics in London.
“I did a lot of bad things, got down on myself, drinking and all kinds of stuff, but I stayed focused,” said Gatlin, who still has not had a run-in with masseuse Christopher Whetstine who has been accused as being the culprit behind Gatlin’s positive testosterone test in 2006.
“I don’t know what I’d say or what I’d do. Through the last five years I wanted to throttle him or anyone involved, but I can’t be in this sport and have a chip on my shoulder. I want to be graceful and be gracious that I’m here,” he said.
Also, European champion Kevin Borlee of Belgium ran a personal best time of 44.74 seconds to win the men’s 400m, with William Collazo of Cuba and Sudan’s Rabah Yousif following in personal best marks.
Sergio Sanchez used a last push around the final bend to take the men’s 3,000m, while American sprinter Tyler Muler beat 2004 Olympic champion Yuriy Borzakovskiy in the men’s 800m.
In women’s races, European champion Nuria Fernandez of Spain won the 1,500m and Nia Ali won the 100m hurdles.
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