Up for track honors, Justin Gatlin shrugs off critics

Justin Gatlin is far more interested in winning races than popularity contests.

Still, the American sprinter with a doping history doesn’t quite understand the backlash over his nomination for track and field athlete of the year.

Gatlin went undefeated in the 100 and 200 meters this season, a year that didn’t include a major meet and one in which Usain Bolt chose to give his injuries time to heal.

But Gatlin’s inclusion for track’s annual award has angered some athletes. So much so that Olympic discus champion Robert Harting even withdrew from consideration.

Gatlin insisted again and again in an interview with The Associated Press that he’s served his time – four years for testing positive for excessive testosterone in 2006 – and should be at least considered, especially after going 18-0.

His reaction to those showing so much displeasure is this: Why over an award? Why not after he captured a bronze medal at the 2012 London Games or silver at the 2013 world championships?

“Not a peep, then. Not a stir,” Gatlin said. “I don’t point fingers.

“I’m sad to say that a lot of people out there feel that, ‘Once a doper, always a doper.’ But that makes no sense. That means you don’t believe your system is working.”

The 32-year-old sprinter said he’s been tested often by U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, World Anti-Doping Agency and IAAF, the governing body of track.

Skepticism remains, though, as when he finished in 9.77 seconds last month, a mark achieved only by the world-record holder Bolt, Tyson Gay, Yohan Blake and Asafa Powell. That’s also the time Gatlin was running in 2006, when he tested positive.

There was originally a 10-man list of nominees for the award issued by IAAF, until Harting took his name out of the running, with the German telling Spiegel magazine, “It’s insulting for me and my fans.” The winner is announced next month.

“A lot of athletes that tested positive, they never came back and ran times close to the times they ran when they were positive,” Gatlin said. “I think that proves hard work and dedication on my behalf.”