Cathal Dennehy: Athletics should know better than lauding Justin Gatlin as a legend

Justin Gatlin is many things. These days, the 43-year-old is a co-host of a popular podcast in athletics, offering interesting, insightful analysis on the world’s best sprinters. He’s a former Olympic and world champion, and the fifth-fastest man in history over 100 metres. He’s a father, an author, an in-demand public speaker who gives talks to athletes, business leaders, students and community organisations.

But another thing he is? A drug cheat, one who’s twice been banned from athletics. As a result, one thing I’d definitely not call him is a “legend” of the sport or “track majesty”, which is how he was described last week in social media posts by Grand Slam Track, the new professional circuit co-founded by Michael Johnson.

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