Statement from USATF CEO on Justin Gatlin announcement

USA Track & Field is gravely concerned that Justin Gatlin has tested positive for banned substances. Justin has been one of the most visible spokespersons for winning with integrity in the sport of track and field, and throughout his career he has made clear his willingness to take responsibility for his actions. Although difficult, his case demonstrates that in track and field and Olympic sports, it doesn't matter who you are. If you test positive for a banned substance, you will face substantial consequences. We hope Justin has not committed a doping offense, and we await the completion of the adjudication process.

USATF continues to work closely with the U.S. Olympic Committee, USADA, the IAAF and others to devise more effective ways of preventing intentional drug use and inadvertent doping positives. The future of our sport lies in the hands of our athletes, and we must do everything we can to enable our brightest young athletes to continue to win the right way, by training right, eating right, living with integrity and associating with the right people. We cannot control the decisions athletes make, or the people close to an athlete who might bring an athlete to harm with or without his or her knowledge. But we must make every effort to lay the groundwork for athletes at all levels to make the right decisions.

Those measures have to date included seminars with athletes of all ages and abilities, from youth to elite athletes; a quarterly anti-doping newsletter that reaches out to athletes, agents and coaches; our Be A Champion youth outreach program; and hiring full-time staff to work directly with USADA and USATF athletes to ensure that athletes are aware of and in compliance with all doping regulations. All of these measures fall under USATF's "Zero Tolerance" Anti-Doping Policy, but they alone will never be enough to eradicate performance-enhancing substances from sport.

We will continue to vigorously pursue new and more creative measures to improve the fight. We owe it to our athletes, our sport, and our sport's future.

Source USATF