The father of world 100m champion Justin Gatlin says the booing of his son is \u201cdisrespectful to the sport\u201d.<\/p>\n
American Gatlin, who has served two doping bans, was booed before and after Saturday\u2019s World Championship final at London Stadium, and when he was presented with his medal.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe served his ban and he worked his heart out doing what he could,\u201d said Willie Gatlin.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe worked to come back, and he worked his way back to championship form.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gatlin, 35, clocked 9.92 seconds as he beat second-placed compatriot Christian Coleman and legendary Jamaican Usain Bolt, who was third.<\/p>\n
Bolt, 30, was unable to secure a 20th global gold in his final individual 100m race before retiring.<\/p>\n
Lord Coe, president of the International Association of Athletics Federation, told BBC Radio 5 live\u2019s Sportsweek Gatlin\u2019s victory was \u201cnot the perfect script\u201d.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cI\u2019m not eulogistic that someone who has served two bans has walked off with one of our glittering prizes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Willie Gatlin said he was not \u201cupset\u201d by his son being booed because \u201cI know what kind of son I raised, what kind of character he has\u201d.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cThe fans booing is disrespectful to the sport. The sport has always been here and is going to be here after he leaves.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe created a memory that is going to be in people\u2019s minds a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Why was Gatlin banned?<\/strong><\/p>\n In 2001, when he was still at college, Gatlin was given a two-year suspension for taking a banned amphetamine.<\/p>\n He successfully argued this was due to medication he took for attention deficit disorder and was allowed to return to competition after a year.<\/p>\n Then, in 2006 \u2013 having won the 100m and 200m double at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki \u2013 he tested positive again, this time for testosterone.<\/p>\n Gatlin was banned for eight years, avoiding a lifetime ban in exchange for his co-operation with doping authorities. This suspension was halved to four years on appeal.<\/p>\n \u201cFor the youngsters coming up, he is trying to help to tutor and help to be good, clean athletes,\u201d added his father.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is trying to teach good character and good sportsmanship about themselves.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think he has regrets, it is a lesson learned. Everything happens for a reason and it gives you teaching moments. We have been through it all and we bear it all.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018Boo the federations\u2019<\/p>\n Toni Minichello, who coached Britain\u2019s former Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill, says fans are entitled to express their opinions \u2013 but adds the authorities also need to be held to account.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not his [Gatlin\u2019s] fault in any way shape or form,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s the fault of the federations and Wada [the World Anti-Doping Agency] for putting the rules down in such a way that allows him to return.<\/p>\n \u201cReally, if you want to boo somebody, boo Wada, boo the federations.\u201d<\/p>\n Source: BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The father of world 100m champion Justin Gatlin says the booing of his son is \u201cdisrespectful to the sport\u201d. American Gatlin, who has served two doping bans, was booed before and after Saturday\u2019s World Championship final at London Stadium, and when he was presented with his medal. \u201cHe served his ban and he worked his […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n