by Larry Eder
Justin Gatlin, Doha 2015, photo by PhotoRun.net
Gatlin not running
BEIJING (CHN): Organisers of the Beijing IAAF World Challenge have reportedly told Justin Gatlin that they do not want him to compete in their meet, report Reuters. The US sprinter had complained of a hamstring cramp and dehydration on arriving to Beijing, but was given the all-clear to be able to compete after a training session on Monday. Gatlin’s agent Renaldo Nehemiah said that organisers have made Gatlin’s team pay for their flights and accommodation, at a cost of over 12 000 USD. Gatlin commented on the situation, “I think they thought I wasn’t man enough and I might pull up in the race, or not finish it and then still ask for money. “I’m not the kind of guy to cheat people of their money or let the fans down… that’s not what I do.” That means the top favorite in men 100 m will be another US sprinter Mike Rodgers who clocked in Doha sub 10 behind Gatlin.
(Editor’s note: So, Reuters wrote two pieces on it and what we can gather is the following: Mr. Gatlin had some cramping when he arrived in Beijing. He communicated this to the meet management, then, worked out on Monday and noted he could compete on Wednesday. By this time, meet management seemed to be less than interested in the fastest man of 2014 and now 2015. Our contacts told us that a sub 10 second 100 meters beats one’s body up, and the cramps sounded pretty normal. There seems to be more to the story, but Beijing meeting management has kept their lips sealed.)
