Gatlin expected to appeal ruling
ATLANTA -- Banned sprinter Justin Gatlin is expected to appeal a ruling by a federal judge in Florida that prohibits him from competing in this weekend's U.S. Olympic track and field trials.
His lawyer, Joseph A. Zarzaur Jr., said Wednesday that he planned to file a motion with the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta by the end of the day, asking that Olympics officials be prevented from barring Gatlin from the trials before the court hears his case.
Gatlin's event, the 100 meters, begins with qualifying Saturday. USA Track and Field officials said they have made contingency plans for Gatlin to run if the courts rule he can.
Gatlin's agent, Renaldo Nehemiah, told The Associated Press that Gatlin hasn't yet made arrangements to travel to Eugene, Ore., for the trials.
"He's only planning on coming out if the court says he's able to do so," Nehemiah said. "It's just a plane ride. He doesn't compete until Saturday. I'd imagine it's doable as long as he has the information in a timely manner."
Judge Lacey Collier of Pensacola, Fla., decided Tuesday that U.S. courts had no authority to overrule the recent Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling that upheld a four-year doping ban against the defending Olympic champion.
Last week, Collier issued a temporary restraining order that would have allowed Gatlin to compete, but the judge's latest decision vacated that order.
Collier said the court system didn't have jurisdiction over this case, because a federal law provided the U.S. Olympic Committee "with exclusive jurisdiction over all matters concerning this country's participation in the Olympic Games."
But while the judge said the courts didn't have jurisdiction, he also pointedly disagreed with the decision to bar Gatlin.
"The basic argument from these defendants is that they are not interested in fairness for Mr. Gatlin; they are interested only in their rules," Collier wrote.
He set up a quick remedy should Gatlin receive a different decision about the jurisdiction from the appeals court.
Asked whether Gatlin was optimistic about his prospects, Nehemiah said: "It doesn't really matter what he is. It's in the court's hands. He's past being optimistic or pessimistic. It's just wait and see."