Bolt, Gatlin square up
BEIJING, China (AFP) — Sprint rivals Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin will square up in the 100m as the Beijing world championships get underway on Saturday.
After a build-up marked by controversies over doping, competition will finally start when Uganda’s Stephen Kiprotich defends his men’s marathon title in the morning session.
But the evening events will take place against a backdrop of doping intrigue, especially when twice-banned Gatlin makes his bid for the 100m final.
Gatlin, 33, has the world’s leading time of 9.74sec and is riding a winning streak of 27 straight races, stretching back to August 2013, since he completed a four-year ban in 2010.
His success has perplexed many but Bolt, who recovered from pelvic joint pain to twice run 9.87 in London last month, said there was no question over Gatlin’s right to compete.
“Competition is competition. It’s always about who’s in the best form and executes,” Bolt said. “Rules are the rules, he’s served his ban and he can compete.
“I’m not worried. I never look at statistics. It’s track and field — you never know what’s going to happen.”
On 100m times recorded in 2015, Bolt is now ranked number six. Gatlin tops the list with his personal best of 9.74 set in Doha in May, having also clocked 9.75 (twice) and 9.78.
“My body feels it’s like a 27-year-old instead of a 33-year-old who’s run those four years and feels tired,” Gatlin said in an interview last month.
“My being away from the sport has been a gift and a curse in a way. For me it’s saddening I had to be away, but I’m able to have had adequate rest and sit back and see my opponents and their growth and use that to my advantage.”