Newly-crowned world 100m champion Justin Gatlin was today booed by the crowd at the Olympic stadium here once again, just hours after athletics' world governing body chief Sebastian Coe
Gold medallist US athlete Justin Gatlin poses on the podium during the victory ceremony for the men's 100m athletics event at the 2017 IAAF World Championships at the London Stadium in London on August 6, 2017. Pic/AFP
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Newly-crowned world 100m champion Justin Gatlin was today booed by the crowd at the Olympic stadium here once again, just hours after athletics' world governing body chief Sebastian Coe said that the American should have been banned for life for a 2006 dope offence.
The 35-year-old Gatlin, who has served two suspensions for doping offences, ruined retiring Usain Bolt's fairytale farewell yesterday by beating the Jamaican sprint superstar in a highly anticipated 100m dash final.
Bolt, who is expected to be a part of Jamaican title defence in men's 4x100m relay on August 12, came third, behind Gatlin and another American Christian Coleman.
Stunned to see their favourite Bolt losing the race, the crowd booed Gatlin while chanting 'Usain Bolt! Usain Bolt!'.
Gatlin was simply cold-shouldered by the London crowd and the American had responded with a 'keep quiet' gesture by putting his index finger on his lips.
Today, during the victory ceremony held just before the afternoon session, Gatlin was booed again by the crowd.
When bronze winner Bolt's name was announced, the crowd responded with loud cheers. But as soon as the announcer in French began took Gatlin's name, the crowd booed him. It was not a prolonged boo though as some sections of the crowd began to clap in acknowledgement of Gatlin's victory.
Gatlin took the boos on his chin as he stood stoically on the podium without showing any emotions.
He called up Bolt and silver winner American compatriot Christain Coleman on the top podium to pose together for the shutterbugs.
Interestingly, IAAF President Coe gave away the medals to Gatlin, Coleman and Bolt as it is customary for the global body chief to do the honours of the blue-riband event of the championships.
Coe shook hands with Gatlin before honouring the newly-crowned champion with the gold medal, just as he did with Coleman and Bolt.
Just a few hours back, Coe had said that Gatlin should have been handed a lengthier eight-year ban for his second dope offence in 2006 and that could have ended his career.
"There have been two bans (on Gatlin) in the past. One got watered down, which made it very difficult for the second ban. The second ban, we went for an eight-year ban, which would have, in essence, been a life ban. We lost that," Coe was quoted as saying by BBC Sport.
Gatlin received a two-year ban in 2001 after failing a dope test for amphetamines found in prescribed medication he had been taking since a child for Attention Deficit Disorder.
This suspension was later reduced to one year on appeal.
The sprinter then tested positive for testosterone in 2006 and was suspended for eight years, avoiding a lifetime ban in exchange for his cooperation with the doping authorities.
This ban, however, was also halved by an arbitration panel in 2007.
"I would like (to see lifetime bans) and so would the majority of our sport. I'm not going to close the door on lifetime bans but we've constantly tried it and lost it," Coe, himself a double Olympic gold medallist in 1500m race, said.
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