Justin Gatlin leaves Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay trailing in his wake in the dirtiest 100m race this century in Lausanne 

• Justin Gatlin won the race with a time of 9.75 seconds 
• The in-form Gatlin left Jamaica's Asafa Powell trailing in 9.92
• Gatlin is increasingly looking like the man to beat at the world championships in Beijing next month
• Five of the seven runners had previously tested positive banned substances

By Associated Press

Published: 19:41 EST, 9 July 2015 | Updated: 05:47 EST, 10 July 2015

Justin Gatlin easily beat two big-name rivals by clocking 9.75 seconds in the 100 metres at the Athletissima Diamond League race on Thursday.

The in-form Gatlin left Jamaica's Asafa Powell trailing in 9.92, the same time as his fellow American Tyson Gay in third.

The time was 0.01 outside Gatlin's world-leading season-best and the 2004 Olympic champion remained unbeaten over 100 since 2013. 

Scroll down for video 

Justin Gatlin leads Tyson Gay (left) and Asafa Powell (right) during 100m in Lausanne on Thursday

Twice-banned Gatlin clocked 9.75 seconds for the victory ahead of Gay and Powell in Switzerland

Gatlin clocks 9.75s in Diamond League win over Gay and Powell

Gatlin starts to pull away from the rest of the field at the half way stage of the race

Gatlin leaves the rest of the field in his wake as he wins the 100m in 9.75secs

The official photo shows how easily Gatlin wins the 100m race in Lausanne

Gatlin says his win does not send a message to Usain Bolt who pulled out of the race through injury

Gatlin is increasingly looking like the man to beat at the world championships in Beijing next month as title holder Usain Bolt struggles with a leg injury.

The race featured five athletes that have previously tested positive banned substances - Gatlin, Powell, Gay and Michael Rodgers - all who finished in the in the top four as well Kim Collins.

All four could feature at the Rio Olympics next summer and if they were to make the final it could become the dirtiest 100m race since the infamous 1988 Olympic final in Seoul when Ben Johnson was stripped of his gold medal after his blood and urine samples contained traces of the anabolic steroid stanozolol.

When asked about his performance and the possible message it sent to double Olympic champion Bolt, Gatlin said: 'It's not a message to anybody. Usain is a great opponent, so it's on me to go out and give him the best challenge I can. Hopefully he will be healthy and ready to go for the world championships.'

Though Gay and Powell were faster out of the blocks on a breezy night, Gatlin drew ahead within 30 meters and quickly went clear.

His display impressed Gay, who took the 2007 world title after Gatlin began serving a four-year ban for doping.

Gatlin is increasingly looking like the man to beat at the world championships in Beijing next month

Gatlin powers ahead of the rest of the field in the 100m in Lausanne as he won the race in 9.75sec

'The guy has improved. He's polished, he's sharp,' Gay said of his US relay team-mate. 'He has a lot of confidence and he's on a roll right now.'

Powell, the former world record-holder, lacked his typical fast start running in the lane to Gatlin's left.

'I didn't run like I should. The first part of my race was not all that great,' said Powell, whose 9.81 time at Paris last weekend puts him second in the season rankings.

Also on Thursday, Olympic champion Mo Farah won the 5,000m in his first race since his American coach Alberto Salazar faced doping allegations last month.

Farah's readiness was seriously tested when he was passed with 250 metres left by Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia, who ran a world-leading time in Rome last month.

Fighting back in the home stretch, Farah went clear then waved his arms urging the crowd to cheer, and struck his chest twice with his right hand and punched the air wildly as he crossed in 13:11.77.

'This victory is also a way to answer some of the critics regarding my coach that came out lately,' said Farah, who was not implicated in the allegations that Salazar has denied.

Gatlin takes a selfie with a group of fans following his impressive 100m victory in Lausanne

Tyson Gay looks dejected after finishing third behind Gatlin and Powell

Farah was among five 2012 London Olympic gold medalists who won on Thursday, with two showing great form.

Anna Chicherova of Russia cleared a world-leading 2.03 meters in the high jump. Her third attempt at the height was nine centimeters better than her previous best jump in 2015.

In the men's javelin, Keshorn Walcott set a Trinidad and Tobago record of 90.16 metres, one of four Athletissima records set in the meeting's 40th edition.

Olympic champion Allyson Felix won the women's 200m in 22.09, though Shaunae Miller of Bahamas had the most impressive sprint performance.

Miller clocked a personal best 49.92 in the 400m to become the second-fastest woman in the world this year. Only American Francena McCorory has run quicker.

With Bolt having withdrawn last week citing a left-leg injury, 19-year-old Anguilla-born Zharnel Hughes of Britain won the men's 200m in a personal best of 20.13 seconds.

Christian Taylor of the U.S. won a high-class triple jump with 18.06 meters, edging past Pedro Pablo Pichardo of Cuba who also beat the previous meet record with 17.99 seconds.

Other meet records were set by German shot putter David Storl's 22.20-metre effort and Virginia Nyambura of Kenya's 9:16.99 run in the women's 3,000 steeplechase.

Mo Farah wins the 5,000m Diamond League in 13mins 11.77 secs

Comments (43)

Share what you think

• Newest
• Oldest
• Best rated
• Worst rated

 View all

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

 View all

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now