Justin Gatlin’s coach caught up in drugs scandal

Justin Gatlin says he is “shocked and surprised” by doping allegations made against his coach and agent.

Gatlin’s coach Dennis Mitchell and an athletics agent Robert Wagner had offered to supply banned drugs for an actor training for a film according to the Daily Telegraph.

The newspapers undercover reporters visited Justin Gatlin’s training camp and secretly recorded the pair talking about drugs in the sport. The undercover reporters claimed the pair offered to supply and administer testosterone and human growth hormone.

Gatlin responded to the allegations saying “I am no using and have not used PED’s. 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.

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“All legal options are on the table as I will not allow others to lie about me like this.”

He added: Thank you all my supporters and well wishers.”

When contacting USADA the United States Anti-Doping Agency, they issued a statement saying “Investigations stemming from tips and whistleblowers play a critical role in anti-doping efforts.

“We are presently coordinating with the Athletics Integrity Unit in order to investigate these claims fully. As with all investigations, we encourage individuals with information to come forward as an important tool to help protect clean athletes. Importantly, individuals are innocent unless and until the established process determines otherwise. It’s only fair to let due process occur before jumping to any conclusions.”

Gatlin’s lawyers told the Telegraph: “There is simply no credible evidence of Mr Gatlin using performance-enhancing drugs.”

Mitchell told the newspaper: “I never suggested in any way that any of my current athletes used any banned substances or that I was familiar with training any of my current athletes with those substances.”

Wagner told the newspaper: “I wasn’t involved in doping, obviously I played along because I knew what was going on. I had to get them hooked.”