US sprinters Gatlin, Gay clash in Bolt's absence

Drug-tainted sprinters Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay will go head to head in an explosive 100m at Thursday's Diamond League meet in Lausanne as injury doubts swirl over Usain Bolt ahead of next month's world championships.

Jamaica's Bolt has pulled out of the 200m in the Swiss city with a pelvis problem, although he insists he will compete in the worlds in Beijing. In his absence, a stellar field of the world's fastest men will meet in Lausanne, with Asafa Powell also featuring.

Gatlin and Gay, who served a one-year doping ban, both have the chance to notch up a significant psychological blow by putting in a solid evening of sprinting in the city that is home to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Gay's doping infringement was touched upon at last weekend's Diamond League meet in Paris, where the French men's 4x100m relay quartet were handed bronze medals from the 2012 London Olympics as a result of the United States being stripped of their silver medals by the IOC.

Mike Rodgers, another previous US doping offender, will also line up on Thursday.

"It's just another race, the fourth since the season started," said Gay, who finished second to Gatlin in his first race back from his ban in Lausanne last season.

"I have to run as much as I can before the world championships in Beijing. I'm back from suspension, I've worked a lot on my mind, to learn how to control my body."

The 2004 Olympic champion Gatlin, who came back from a drugs ban to win Olympic bronze in London in 2012 and world silver in Moscow a year later, currently has the world's best time this season, having run 9.74sec in the opening Diamond League meet in Doha.

Former world record holder Powell, a four-time winner in Lausanne (2004, 2008, 2009, 2011) and victor in Paris last weekend ahead of France's Jimmy Vicaut and Rodgers, has run the second fastest time (9.81) this season and double 2007 world sprint champion Gay the third quickest (9.87).

Jamaica's Powell also previously served a ban after testing positive for a banned stimulant.

One notable absentee from the Stade de la Pontaise apart from Bolt will be Croatian high jumper Blanka Vlasic, who has withdrawn with pain in her achilles tendon.

The former two-time world champion (2007, 2009) and 2008 Olympic silver medallist said: "I have to be very careful. I must avoid serious injuries before the Beijing world champs."

The men's 400m hurdles also boasts a top-notch field, pitching American duo Bershawn Jackson and Michael Tinsley against Puerto Rican Javier Culson.

Allyson Felix, whose 21.98sec clocked in Doha is the fastest in the world this year, is also part of the strong US contingent, racing in the 200m and likely under most threat from Dutch European champion Dafne Schippers.
Source: AFP