World 100m champion Justin Gatlin is dragged into a FRESH doping scandal: American drugs cheat FIRES his coach 'after he's caught offering to supply performance-enhancing drugs to an undercover reporter'
- American sprinter Justin Gatlin set to be investigated by Athletics Integrity Unit
- His entourage are said to have offered to smuggle prescription drugs
- Undercover reporters claim they were offered the service for $250,000 by former gold medalist Dennis Mitchell, Gatlin's coach, and agent Robert Wagner
- Gatlin - who was banned for doping in 2001 and 2006 - was booed by spectators after edging Usain Bolt in the 100m World Athletics Championship
- The gold medalist has strongly denied the allegations and lawyers for the sprinter announced on Monday night that he had fired his coach
Justin Gatlin, who has twice been convicted of using banned substances, is set to be investigated by the Athletics Integrity Unit
Controversial track and field superstar Justin Gatlin is facing a new doping probe after members of his team allegedly offered to supply performance-enhancing drugs to undercover journalists.
The American 100m sprinter is set to be investigated by the Athletics Integrity Unit after members of his entourage were said to have offered to smuggle prescription testosterone and a human-growth hormone acquired under a false name to the US.
Gatlin - who was banned for doping in 2001 and again in 2006 - was booed by spectators in August of this year after edging fan favorite Usain Bolt in the 100m World Athletics Championship. For Bolt, the reigning 100m record holder, it was the final race of his historic career.
Undercover reporters for The Telegraph in London claim they were offered the service for $250,000 (£187,000) by former Olympic gold medalist Dennis Mitchell, the 35-year-old Gatlin's coach, and track and field agent Robert Wagner. The banned substances were allegedly to be provided by a doctor in Austria.
The journalists posed as representatives of a film company wanting to make a sports film who were looking for a coach to train their star to look like an athlete.
Mitchell and Wagner are said to have claimed that the use of banned substances in athletics is still widespread - with the agent even saying that Gatlin himself had been taking performance-enhancing drugs.
Gatlin has strongly denied the allegations and lawyers for the sprinter announced on Monday night that he had fired his coach. He also revealed over five years' worth of drug tests to show he 'never tested positive for any banned substance.'
A spokesman for Gatlin told MailOnline: 'Justin has gone through a litany of allegations before and this isn't anything he's got himself involved in.'
In a message posted on his Instagram account Gatlin wrote: 'I am not using and have not used PEDs (performance-enhancing drugs).
'I was shocked and surprised to learn that my coach would have anything to do with even the appearance of these current accusations. I fired him as soon as I found out about this.
'All legal options are on the table and I will not allow others to lie about me like this. I have no further comments as it is now a legal matter. They will next hear from my lawyer.'
He added: 'Thank you all my supporters and well-wishers.'
Scroll down for video
Justin Gatlin (left) wins the Men's 100m Final ahead of Christian Coleman (5) and Jamaica's Usain Bolt, who finished third. For Bolt, the reigning world record holder, it was his final race
Justin Gatlin bows to Jamaica's Usain Bolt after the 100m final in August
Gatlin's reputation tarnished his gold medal at the London Stadium on what was meant to be Bolt's emotional farewell to the sport in the eyes of some fans. Some even suggested he should not have been allowed to compete, given his history with performance enhancing drugs.
Since returning to the track after a four-year ban in 2010, Gatlin has claimed to be clean and has offered to release data from tests in the past five years.
Lord Coe, the IAAF president, said: 'These allegations are extremely serious and I know the independent Athletics Integrity Unit will investigate in accordance with its mandate.'
The US Anti-Doping Agency told The Telegraph: 'Investigations stemming from tips and whistleblowers play a critical role in anti-doping efforts.'
The Telegraph's investigation began in July when regulators failed to take any action after it was revealed that agents and trainers had allegedly been supplying performance enhancing drugs to athletes.
Wagner – who had only worked with Gatlin a few times, according to the sprinter's longtime agent, Renaldo Nehemiah – was one of the individuals identified as supplying performance enhancing drugs.
Track and field agent Robert Wagner (pictured) only worked with Gatlin a few times, according to the sprinter's longtime agent, Renaldo Nehemiah
Undercover reporters for The Telegraph claim they were offered the service for $250,000 by former Olympic gold medalist Dennis Mitchell (left with Gatland and right) and agent Robert Wagner
The reporters claimed to be production company employees working on a track and field film. They told Wagner that they wanted to find someone to train the lead actor so that he could be in shape for production.
Wagner reportedly named several high-profile people who he said would be willing to cooperate with the plan. However, he claimed he informed the IAAF integrity unit about the conversation with undercover reporters in November.
'I wasn't involved in doping,' he said. 'Obviously I played along because I knew what was going on. I had to get them hooked.'
Wagner also claimed that he only told the undercover reporters about colleagues obtaining banned substances to 'get the job,' referring to the fictitious film.
Wagner denied knowing about Gatlin's alleged use of performance enhancing drugs: 'I am not Justin Gatlin's agent, how would I know that?'
The sportswriter-turned-agent reportedly bragged about representing Ben Johnson, the scandalized Canadian sprinter who was stripped of a gold medal in the 1988 Olympics after it was reveal that his urine sample tested positive for performance enhancing drugs.
A Brooklyn-native who once flirted with the idea of joining the NFL, Gatlin ran the 100m dash in 9.80 seconds during the 2012 US Olympic Trials - the fastest time ever by anyone over the age of 30.
At the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games Gatlin became the oldest man to win an Olympic in a non-relay sport when he finished second to Bolt in the 100m dash.
Jamaica's Usain Bolt (left) and USA's Justin Gatlin after the Men's 100m Final
Most watched News videos
- Is this glowing orb shooting into the sun proof of intelligent life?
- Donald Trump uses two hands to drink water from glass
- Thousands turn out to see criminals sentenced and executed
- Prince Harry jokes around with Barack Obama before interview
- Startling video of Navy pilots encountering unknown flying object
- Munroe Bergdorf told off for saying n-word on Good Morning Britain
- F***ing joke? Paula Radcliffe's husband on Mo Farah's SPOTY win
- Fire rages from car after it exploded with driver stuck inside
- Terrifying moment plane crashes at airshow in the Russian Arctic
- Police statement after 'horrific' multi-vehicle crash in Birmingham
- Scene of fatal car crash in Birmingham where at least 6 died
- Restaurant boss stunned after customers send letter with bill
- Saudi Arabia 'intercepts Yemen rebel ballistic missile...
- Kim Jong-un 'executes' ANOTHER official over a launch...
- Trump sparks fresh dementia concerns after he drinks...
- Concert pickpocket who turned himself into 'human deposit...
- The picture that has shamed Argentina: Tiny girl goes on...
- Wife is covered in bruises so husband could degrade her...
- PIERS MORGAN: She might look better doing it but...
- Transgender model who was sacked by L’Oreal over race row...
- Bird-lovers slam BMW and Audi drivers in exclusive...
- 'I am broken from inside': K-pop boy band singer who...
- Turkish Islamic preacher says men without beards cause...
- Cheeky couple are thrown out of Moscow cab romping in the...
- Queen appoints Prince Harry to take over from his...
- Toys R Us on the brink of collapse: Retailer could...
- A tent riddled with Nazi bullets, bikinis on parade and a...
- Former Glee actor Mark Salling faces up to seven years in...
- Divers are sent in to start work on fixing a leak on the...
- Police rule out foul play in case of 22-year-old woman...