American sprint legend opens up on stigma faced after his doping scandal
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Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 13.01.25. | 13:55
Gatlin’s troubles began during his freshman year in college when he tested positive for a banned substance
American sprint legend Justin Gatlin has shed light on the intense stigma and challenges he faced following his doping scandal.
Speaking on the Run Your Race podcast, the former Olympic champion shared his experiences of navigating life and athletics after being branded a “drug cheat.”
Gatlin’s first doping ban came during his college years, but it was his second ban in 2006 that dealt a major blow to his reputation and career.
At the time, Gatlin was riding high on a wave of success.
He had clinched Olympic gold in the 100m at the 2004 Athens Games and secured a historic double victory in the 100m and 200m at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki, earning the admiration of fans worldwide.
However, his world came crashing down in 2006 when it was announced that he had tested positive for testosterone or its precursor.
After prolonged legal battles and deliberations, Gatlin was handed a four-year ban from the sport. The fallout was devastating.
“For the four years I was out, it turned me into a man, it grew me,” Gatlin reflected.
“I went through depression and was out drinking every night. I had so many situations where my name was marred, with people just taking shots at me,” he said.
Gatlin admitted that the ban left him in a state of despair.
Track and field had been his life, and without it, he struggled to find purpose.
“Social media was not a big thing back then, but I could not go anywhere because I was labeled a drug cheat. Even the articles would not acknowledge my gold medal; they just called me a two-time drug cheat,” he shared.
The challenges persisted even after his return to the sport.
“The two years after my ban were harder because I was also black. I was back in the sport but not making money. I was flying to those little meets and not even making enough money to get a ticket back home. Some promoters of the Diamond Leagues did not want me in their races, and others would allow me to run but would not pay me. People still hated me up to the point of my retirement,” he recalled.
Gatlin’s troubles began during his freshman year in college when he tested positive for a banned substance.
He explained that Adderall, which was not initially on the prohibited list, became a problem after its classification changed.
“When I got to college, I was a student first, then an athlete. But when I stepped into the real world of Team USA and World Athletics, certain things were banned. Adderall was not on the list when I was a kid, but during my freshman year, I was banned from any pro races,” he offered.
Although this initial ban was eventually lifted, Gatlin’s career was further derailed in 2006 due to what he described as the negligence of a therapist.
“I tested positive again, and it was because of the negligence of a therapist I was working with at the time,” he stated.
Despite the controversies, Gatlin’s resilience and determination saw him return to competitive sprinting, earning medals and challenging the world’s best until his retirement.
However, the stigma of his past continued to follow him.
“Those four years were hard, but they shaped me. I learned a lot about myself and what it means to truly overcome adversity,” he concluded.
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