100-metre record-holder Gatlin positive for steroids

July 29, 2006

New York - US sprinter Justin Gatlin, the co-holder of the world record and world and Olympic champion in the 100 metres, announced Saturday that he has tested positive for steroids.

He said that the United States Anti-doping Agency notified him of a positive result for 'testosterone or its precursors' from a sample Gatlin gave following his competition in a relay on April 22 in Kansas City, Missouri.

'I cannot account for these results, because I have never knowingly used any banned substance or authorized anyone else to administer such a substance to me,' Gatlin said in a statement.

He said that he was 'doing everything in my power to find out what caused this to happen.'

Gatlin promised to 'continue to cooperate fully' with the anti- doping investigation. He expressed the hope that 'when all the facts are revealed it will be determined that I have done nothing wrong.'