6th August, 2017
Justin Gatlin’s 100m victory at the World Championships in London was “not the perfect script”, says Lord Coe.
American Gatlin, 35, who has twice served a doping ban, pulled off a shock win to end Usain Bolt’s reign in the Jamaican’s final individual race.
“I’m not eulogistic that someone who has served two bans has walked off with one of our glittering prizes,” said Coe, who is president of athletics’ governing body the IAAF.
“But he is eligible to be here.”
Bolt, 30, had been favourite to secure his 20th global gold in the final major championships of his glittering career, but the three-time 100m Olympic champion had to settle for bronze, finishing behind Gatlin and his USA team-mate Christian Coleman.
Gatlin was booed by the crowd at London Stadium as he celebrated, but was embraced by Bolt on the finish line.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 live’s Sportsweek, Coe added: “It’s not the perfect script. I thought Usain was very generous with the observations he made.
“That must have been a bitter event for him to swallow. He was bigger than the moment and it typifies his career.”