Justin Gatlin Ineligible for IAAF Athlete of the Year

Justin Gatlin Ineligible for IAAF Athlete of the Year

Jul 13, 2015 by Meg Bellino
Justin Gatlin Ineligible for IAAF Athlete of the Year



Gatlin wins the 100m at the 2015 Diamond League Lausanne in 9.75 over Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell

Justin Gatlin
is ineligible for receiving the IAAF’s Athlete of the Year award, according to an article published by Reuters.

Gatlin was the fastest man in the world over 100m and 200m in 2014, and was included in the IAAF's selection as one of the top 10 male athletes of the year last season.

He currently holds the No. 1 times in 2015 for the 100m (9.74) and 200m (19.57) and won the 200m at last month's U.S. Championship.

According to a new rule in the selection process, “any athlete who has been sanctioned for a serious doping offense” becomes ineligible for the award. The change in criteria is effective this year.

Gatlin served a four-year ban that began in 2006 after testing positive for testosterone and looks to world record-holder Usain Bolt's biggest threat at next month's world championship.

What do you think? Should Gatlin be eligible for the award?