• Athletics

Gay to race Gatlin after drugs shame

ESPN staff
June 3, 2014
Tyson Gay saw his doping ban reduced to a year for helping the authorities © PA Photos
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Tyson Gay will return to action a year after testing positive for an anabolic steroid with a showdown against former doper Justin Gatlin after accepting an invitation to the Diamond League meeting in Lausanne.

Gay has "chosen to make his comeback from a one-year doping suspension on July 3 at the IAAF Diamond League Athletissima meeting, where he will compete in the 100m," read a statement from the organisers.

Gay, who saw his ban for three failed drugs tests reduced to a year after offering "substantial assistance" to the United States Anti-Doping Agency, is free to return to competition from June 23.

"Lausanne has always been one of my favourite meets, and I'm thrilled to have it be my opening meet of 2014," Gay said. "I have run fast times here. I have been training for several months, and will be ready on July 3."

The showdown between Gay and Gatlin, who served four years of an eight-year ban after being found guilty of a second doping offence in 2006, is set to dominate the meeting, which will feature a string of world and Olympic champions.

Gay's final meeting before his ban came in Lausanne in 2013. He won the 100m in 9.79sec, 0.03 outside the wind-assisted 9.76sec posted by Gatlin at the Eugene Diamond League meeting at the weekend.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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