by Alfonz Juck
Justin Gatlin, photo by PhotoRun.net
ORLANDO (USA): Reuters is reporting that world 100m champion Justin Gatlin has returned to his former coach Brooks Johnson who trained Gatlin in 2010 and 2011 after breaking up with Dennis Mitchell due to doping allegations. “We have not gotten into that kind of intense training but my sense is the thing that needs attention and needs to get worked through is basically his disappointment and upset with having to make the changes and the conditions under which he had to make them,” said Johnson.
RunBlogRun opines: Brooks Johnson, at the astute age of 85, is a man of some complication. His knowledge, life experience and absolutely amazing memory are something to behold. One of my favorite nights in my career, was a dinner in the 1990s in Portland with Said Aouita, Brooks Johnson, John Smith, and the late Paul Banta, at the adidas Portland GP. The discussion was all about the history of the 400 meters. I was in awe. Brooks wry humor, but, again, his ability to provide a historical context of training, the coaches, with John Smith’s commentary was, well, impressive.
Justin Gatlin could not be in better hands. Brooks is on the dime. Justin Gatlin put a huge amount of trust in Dennis Mitchell, and Mr. Mitchell screwed the proverbial pooch.
Truth is, the Telegraph team lied to Dennis Mitchell and Robert Wagner to get their story. It was a complete set up and double standard. I wonder when they will do it with British athletes that they have tarnished over the years. Mitchell was no saint, and Wagner was just plain ill advised to speak like he did. Both have put the proverbial nails in their athletic coffins. The Telegraph continues to sink to any level for a story, not much of a surprise.
