Justin Gatlin - reuters

phoenix (ap)

Sprinter Justin Gatlin agreed to an eight-year ban from athletics yesterday, officials said, avoiding a lifetime penalty in exchange for his cooperation with doping authorities and because his first positive drug test was deemed an honest mistake.

He will forfeit the world record he tied in May, when he ran the 100 metres in 9.77 seconds. At age 24, the lengthy ban would all but end Gatlin's career.

Gatlin tested positive in April for testosterone or other steroids, five years after his first positive test, which was for medicine to control attention-deficit disorder(ADD). Under the World Anti-Doping Agency code, a second doping offence calls for a lifetime ban.

Compromise

But Gatlin reached a compromise with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). Under terms of the compromise, he can still appeal to an arbitration panel in the next six months to have the term reduced.

He cannot, however, dispute the test result.

"To his credit, it's recognition that the science is reliable," USADA general counsel Travis Tygart told The Associated Press. "Instead of wasting a bunch of resources attempting to create smoke where there's not any, he's acknowledging the accuracy of the positive test, and in exchange for his agreement to cooperate, we've recognised the nature of his first offence."

That offence came while Gatlin was in college. He stopped taking the ADD medicine a few days before competition, but it did not clear his system. He received a two-year ban for that test, which was reduced by a year because of the "exceptional circumstances" of the offence.

"The nature of Gatlin's first offence for use of his medication puts this violation in a unique category," USADA chief executive officer Terry Madden said.

Didn't know

Gatlin has said he didn't know how steroids got into his system this time.

One of his attorneys, John Collins, said Gatlin would spell out his case at the arbitration hearing. He would not discuss strategy.

"The last time this happened, he went to the panel and explained he neither cheated nor intended to cheat," Collins said. "This time, we'll explain the full stack of circumstances and everything around it and, hopefully, we'll get a similar result."

'Vengeful massage '

He said the circumstances "indicate he deserves something far less than eight years, if anything."

Collins wouldn't confirm the argument would be based on claims by Gatlin's coach, Trevor Graham, who has contended Gatlin tested positive after a vengeful massage therapist used testosterone cream on the runner without his knowledge. Graham has been involved with at least a half dozen athletes who've received drug suspensions and has been barred from U.S. Olympic Committee training sites.

Gatlin has long positioned himself as a champion of clean and doping-free competition in a sport dogged by scandal. The head of USA Track and Field called Gatlin's case "a setback for our sport."

"While we are glad Justin has taken responsibility for his positive test and will cooperate in USADA's anti-doping efforts, we are sorely disappointed in him," USATF chief executive officer Craig Masback said in a statement.

USADA looks at this as a significant compromise - and the arbitration process could bring Gatlin back much sooner than eight years.

USADA has a history of offering leniency to those who help in its fight against doping. Though the agency doesn't disclose the names of those who cooperate, Gatlin possibly could help USADA by providing information on Graham, who has denied any direct involvement with performance-enhancing drugs.

"He accepted liability," Tygart said. "He agreed not to raise technical arguments or frivolous defences. He has an opportunity to go to a panel of arbitrators and argue exceptional circumstances."

In this case, the exceptional circumstances could be that he was sabotaged, or has no idea how the steroids entered his system.