Atlanta’s Christian Coleman has won the world championship gold medal in the men's 100 meters, three weeks after avoiding a ban for missed drug tests.
Coleman, 23, started well and extended his lead down the stretch to win in 9.76 seconds. Defending champion Justin Gatlin finished second in the marquee event of the championships, dominated by Usain Bolt until his loss to Gatlin in 2017. Andre de Grasse of Canada was third.
Coleman was the silver medalist behind the 37-year-old Gatlin in 2017. In Doha, they ran side-by-side, but Gatlin never really threatened.
Gatlin said he had reached out to support Coleman when the younger runner faced a potential ban.
In contrast to the boos that greeted Gatlin's victory in London two years ago — a reference to his two previous suspensions for doping — the reception for Coleman was warm at the lightly attended event in the Qatari capital.
About the Author
Keep Reading
The Latest
Featured
