Drug cheat Justin Gatlin ran the fastest 100 metres in the world this year as he clocked 9.77 seconds to claim a dominant victory at the Memorial van Damme in Brussels
Justin Gatlin competes in Brussels on Friday. Pic/AFP
Brussels: Drug cheat Justin Gatlin ran the fastest 100 metres in the world this year as he clocked 9.77 seconds to claim a dominant victory at the Memorial van Damme in Brussels.
Justin Gatlin competes in Brussels on Friday. Pic/AFP
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The American, who has twice served doping bans, emphatically beat a world-class field to extend his unbeaten run to 17 races at the final Diamond League meeting of the season.
The time was a new personal best for the controversial sprinter at the age of 32. It in fact equalled the mark he set in 2006 - then an equal world record - which was scratched from the history books following his doping ban.
The win also earned him victory in the Diamond Race, the overall competition across all 14 Diamond League meetings of the year.
It all raises the prospect of Gatlin posing a very real challenge to Usain Bolt at next year's World Championships, especially given the Jamaican's fitness problems this season.
The six-time Olympic gold medallist has ended his campaign.