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OLYMPICS/ Athletes
Gatlin blocked to compete in US Olympic athletics trials
Xinhua
Updated: 2008-06-25 09:49
WASHINGTON -- Banned Olympic 100m champion Justin Gatlin was blocked by a US federal judge on Tuesday to compete in this week's US athletics trials for the Beijing Olympic Games.
In this May 12, 2006 file photo, Justin Gatlin of the United States competes in the Men's 100-meter event at the Qatar Grand Prix in Doha, Qatar. A federal judge now says Gatlin cannot compete in this weekend's US Olympic track and field trials. The decision Tuesday, June 24, 2008 reversed his earlier order that allowed Gatlin to run, upholding a four-year doping ban against the defending Olympic 100-meter champion. [Agencies] |
Judge Lacey Collier dissolved a 10-day restraining order that would have allowed the 26-year-old to take part in the trials in Eugene, Oregon, starting on Friday.
He also denied Gatlin's request for a preliminary injunction in the case.
"As courts have indeed held, issues regarding whether an athlete is eligible to participate in the Olympic Games or any of its qualifying events are reserved solely for the USOC (United States Olympic Committee), and the courts have no jurisdiction to entertain a private right of action that might impinge upon an eligibility determination," Collier wrote in his ruling.
Gatlin was suspended for four years after a 2006 positive test for the male sex hormone testosterone. The sprinter also tested positive in 2001 for amphetamines.
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