The 35-year-old American sprint star has sacked coach Dennis Mitchell, according to the report, which revealed Mitchell and athletics agent Robert Wagner offered to provide false prescriptions for banned performance-enhancing substances and smuggle those drugs into the United States. “Investigations stemming from tips and whistleblowers play a critical role in anti-doping efforts,” an unnamed USADA spokesman told the newspaper. “These allegations are extremely serious and I know the independent Athletics Integrity Unit will investigate in accordance with its mandate,” Coe said. Gatlin was banned for doping in 2001 for one year and in 2006 for four years. Gatlin’s longtime agent, Renaldo Nehemiah, told the newspaper that Wagner had represented Gatlin only two to three times and that Gatlin was not present when banned substances were discussed with Mitchell or Wagner.

Source: New Strait Times December 19, 2017 00:11 UTC