LOS ANGELES - Sprinter Justin Gatlin has retained the attorney in charge of cyclist Floyd Landis' defense for his upcoming attempt to have a four-year doping ban reduced further.
Justin Gatlin celebrates winning the 100 metres final at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, August 22, 2004. [Agencies] |
The attorney, Maurice Suh, said Monday that he has been hired by Gatlin, who recently had a possible eight-year ban reduced to four years and is expected to seek further reductions through the Court of Arbitration for Sport or other measures.
Gatlin, the defending 100-meter Olympic champion, is hoping to be able to compete in time for this year's U.S. Olympic trials, which are in May, and become eligible for the Beijing Games.
The suspension handed down last month bans Gatlin through May 24, 2010 for a second positive doping test.
But because his first positive came for medication he was taking to treat Attention Deficit Disorder, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency agreed to reduce his second suspension from a lifetime ban to a maximum of eight years.
The arbitration panel cut that penalty in half, but also left open the possibility of further reductions on the basis of the circumstances of the first positive test.
Suh was the architect of Landis' high-profile arbitration hearing last May that didn't produce a victory but did highlight flaws in the way the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and other affiliated anti-doping authorities conduct testing.
Landis has appealed to CAS and his hearing is tentatively scheduled for March.
