Beijing trips up the world's fastest man

20 May 2015 - 02:13 By Reuters

Controversial sprinter Justin Gatlin ran into a fresh row yesterday when he claimed that the organisers of the Beijing World Challenge had told him that they did not want him to compete. The American, who has served two doping bans but is currently the world's fastest man, said he had planned to headline the 100m race, despite slight injury concerns, but was told he was not wanted.Organisers of the meeting, in the Bird's Nest Stadium , gave no explanation as to why they would want to exclude him from a meeting at which he was the star attraction.Asked whether Gatlin's sudden departure was linked to his reputation or to a new doping allegation, the sprinter's manager, Renaldo Nehemiah, said: "No, it has nothing to do with that. No, this is because they think he is injured and they don't want him here if he's injured."Gatlin told reporters as he left to fly home to Florida that he was "upset by the lack of respect" shown him...

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